El Che

As Lefties around the world payed their respect today on account of the 40th anniversary of Ernesto Guevara's death, it doesn't hurt to look at the connection el Che had with soccer. Well before he met his demise in the little Bolivian village of La Higuera, Guevara not only enjoyed playing soccer, but rugby as well.

During his famous travels through South America, retold in his book "The Motorcycle Diaries," he recalled a story of a stop in Leticia, Colombia. It was there in 1952 where, playing between the sticks for local side Independiente, he saved a penalty.

Today, 40 years after his death, his soccer-playing days are remembered in Jesus Maria, Argentina. It is in this small town, just over 30 miles from Cordoba, that amateur soccer club Social, Atletico y Deportivo Ernesto Che Guevara play their home games. Having been founded less than a year ago, they play in the Colon regional league, and are bottom of the table.

With a newly appointed coach, the hope is that they can climb up the table and make a name for themselves. Though that might not be very realistic, the club strive on by recalling one of Guevara's more famous quotes: "We're realists, but we dream the impossible."

El Che y 10 más (in Spanish) [Olé]

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How Does Anyone Respect FIFA?

Though the altitude ban is still in "place," Sepp Blatter has given the Bolivians permission to play in La Paz. That's an altitude of 11,811 feet for those keeping score at home.

The previous limits had been 8,202 and 9,842 feet above sea level. But after a little poking and prodding, FIFA has chosen not to fight the powerful president of Bolivia.

When stuff like this happens (or this, this, this...), it sullies the game and makes it look like a joke.

FIFA chief will waive altitude ban [Supersport South Africa]
Punishments cut for Italian clubs [BBC]
Fifa have 'no respect' - Kanoute [BBC]
Blades lose appeal on relegation [BBC]

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Not Everything Is Rosy In Venezuela

By all accounts, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez enjoyed the first day of the Copa America yesterday. He had Diego Maradona on one side of him, and on the other, Bolivian president Evo Morales. While the night ended in a draw for both of their countries, Chavez woke up to two headaches this morning.

Chavez's decree that there wouldn't be any demonstrations in and around the tournament venues was tested today when journalists and political foes marched peacefully through the streets of Caracas. It'll be interesting to see how much patience Chavez really has before cracking down.

Also on the Venezuelan's radar will be the news that two U.S. oil companies are refusing to hand over control of their major investments in Venezuela, stakes valued in the billions. The country has some of the most coveted oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere, and ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil are expecting something in the order of $3.5B (Conoco) and $800M (Exxon) before they leave Venezuela.

Chavez and Evo preside over inauguration of Copa America [Granma International]
Venezuelans March for Free Speech on RCTV Anniversary [Bloomberg]
2 Oil Firms Are Defiant in Venezuela [New York Times]

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WTF?

Talk about muddying the waters. Sepp Blatter now says that FIFA will allow matches to be played at altitudes above no more than 3,000 meters (9,840 ft.). This amends the previous limit of 2,500 meters (8,200 ft.), which was implemented just one month ago. The big cheese had this to say:

This turned out to be a huge political discussion on a subject that was solely aimed at protecting players' health. We do not want to keep people from playing football at altitude ... (but) we do not want casualties on the field.

The new ruling would allow Colombia to play in Bogota and Ecuador to play in Quito. But for Bolivia and Peru, there's nothing left but to continue citing CONMEBOL's own medical panel who insist that playing at altitude causes "no major problems" provided there has been a period of acclimatisation.

Let's see if Peru ignores the ruling by playing their World Cup qualifiers in Cuzco, a mountain town situated 3,400 meters (11,155 ft.) above sea level. Now that would be pretty cool.

FIFA eases altitude restriction [Denver Post]

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This Will Show 'em

Sacrificing a llama usually works for me when I'm trying to get FIFA to overturn a ban I feel encroaches on my way of life. No wonder Bolivian president Evo Morales decided to play a "friendly" at about 19,700 feet above sea level. What else can the guy do, it's Bolivia for God's sake.

Who knew they had a navy?

Bolivians in High Dudgeon Over Soccer Ban [New York Times]

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FIFA's Altitude Ruling

I am perfectly happy blaming Argentina and Brazil for FIFA's ban on matches played over 8,200 feet. But if I'm wrong, and the two traditional South American powers have not pulled the strings on this, why is Argentina unwilling to pledge it's support to Bolivia's struggle to get the ban overturned?

Come on Argentina, show your cards.

Bolivia sees soccer rule as height of folly [Los Angeles Times]
Bolivians play, frolic in street to protest FIFA's altitude ban [International Herald Tribune]

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FIFA Turns It's (One Good) Eye Towards Bolivia

I guess the soccer world's governing body wasn't busy influencing a federation's elections (Michel Platini's thank you card is in the mail) because they're now turning their attention to Bolivia's home field advantage. FIFA has enlisted the help of medical professionals to find out if playing at high altitudes is harmful to a players well being.

Teams have been complaining about having to play in Bolivia for years, so why take a 'serious' look at it now? Brazilian club Flamengo must have some pull in Zurich, they called the conditions at a recent Copa Libertadores match "inhumane." If Flamengo didn't like it, how do you think Venezuela's sea-level club, Maracaibo, is going to fare playing at 13,780 feet?

FIFA Studies High-Altitude Soccer as Players Gasp for Oxygen [Bloomberg]

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