BUENOS AIRES: FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s suggested changes to competition formats to try and avoid a financial crisis were “ill-timed,” the president of South American football’s governing body said on Friday.

“I was really surprised with President Infantino’s comments. This is not a moment to talk about planning. Right now, we have to prioritise health above politics, Alejandro Dominguez said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We have to talk about how we can help players, the clubs, and the member federations.”

Dominguez was responding to Infantino’s comments in an interview with Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport published on Monday. With soccer stopped around the world because of the coronavirus pandemic, the FIFA president warned football risked going into recession and the future could mean fewer games and top competitions.

“I think its ill-timed,” Dominguez said. “... Its a debate that we should have in the long run. The priority right now is to have solidarity to get by in the current situation.”

Dominguez added there’s no rush to resume play in South America.

CONMEBOL announced on Thursday it will offer to the clubs playing in its two main competitions the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana an advance of up to 60% of their prize money so they can manage to remain solvent during the crisis.

The 32 clubs playing in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores could receive up to $1.8 million each. And the 22 that advanced to the second stage of the Copa Sudamericana will get up to $225,000 each. The finals for both tournaments are scheduled for November.

The Libertadores was halted on March 12 after the second round of group matches as COVID-19 hit South America.

CONMEBOL also postponed the start of World Cup qualifying in the region.

Dominguez said that CONMEBOL has asked FIFA to add a window for qualifying matches in April next year.

“Our proposal is to allow us to make changes and be flexible with the FIFA calendar in order for CONMEBOL to extend its qualifying to those dates, Dominguez said.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2020