ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout says his members still want to play the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the United States while seeking talks with co-organizer CONCACAF.
South America’s centenary event was jeopardized when United States prosecutors alleged massive bribery in international football, including a scheme linked to a $112.5 million broadcasting deal for the one-off 16-nation tournament.
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted the two previous CONMEBOL presidents and then-CONCACAF president.
Napout tells The Associated Press he is “very optimistic” about talking with CONCACAF after its Gold Cup ends Sunday.
Speaking on the sidelines of a CONMEBOL executive committee meeting, Napout says “we wish that of course we can have the Copa Centenario as we wanted to.”
Napout adds “I can’t say what CONCACAF wants.”
