BOLIVIA: The highs and lows of futbol
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Afraid of heights?
Not Bolivian President Evo Morales, the world’s leading aficionado of high-altitude fútbol.
Morales is furious that FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, decided to ban international matches above 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). FIFA cited health and competitive factors.
The ruling sparked outrage in fútbol-crazed Andean nations, where thin-air cities such as La Paz, Bogotá, Quito and Cuzco have gotten a red card. Altitude has long been a home-field advantage against visitors from low-lying soccer powers Brazil and Argentina. FIFA this week raised the ceiling to 3,000 meters (9,840 feet), but that wouldn’t much help Bolivia, where the capital, La Paz, and other altiplano cities are higher.
The crusading Morales, an avid sportsman and populist, has organized a series of much-publicized pickup games at increasingly higher venues to demonstrate his chagrin.
The Bolivian president was most recently found kicking a ball around in the snow and ice -- and defying altitude sickness -- at a dizzying elevation of 6,000 meters (almost 20,000 feet) on the flanks of Nevado Sajama, Bolivia’s tallest peak. A military helicopter lifted Morales and others to a point near the pinnacle. Troops helped clear a glaciated pitch and kept vigil to ensure no one slid off into oblivion. El presidente netted the winning goal.
‘Where one can make love,’ declared a fatigued but satisfied Morales, breathing heavily, ``one can practice sport.’’
Posted by Patrick J. McDonnell and Andrés D’Alessandro in Buenos Aires