What's going on in Bolivia and why Conmebol moved several matches | OneFootball

In recent hours, some Bolivian clubs announced through an official statement that they will play their international cup matches in Asunción rather than in their home cities due to the severe social unrest affecting the country: Always Ready will host Mirassol in Lanús’s Copa Libertadores group, while in the Copa Sudamericana, Independiente Petrolero will face Botafogo in Racing’s group and Blooming will play Carabobo in River’s group.

This situation is due to a much deeper problem affecting the Bolivian people. The political and social climate is going through one of its most delicate moments since Rodrigo Paz came to power. Just six months after taking office, he is facing widespread protests, roadblocks, and growing criticism over fuel shortages, the economic downturn, and wage demands.

For several days now, different sectors have maintained blockades at nearly 70 points across the country, causing a virtual paralysis. According to local media, the government deployed police and military forces this Saturday to clear access routes and guarantee the arrival of essential supplies to La Paz.

The Bolivian Workers’ Central (COB), farming organizations, miners, and teachers are leading the protest actions. While some unions are demanding wage increases, others are calling for fuel or larger mining exploitation areas. At the same time, the protests have become increasingly intense and have led to clashes with the authorities.

Given this climate of unrest, Bolivia’s First Division has been played almost as normal, with the exception of a few matches due to roadblocks that prevented some teams from traveling. For international competitions, CONMEBOL suggested changing home venues so the matches would not have to be postponed during the decisive group stage.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.