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

Over the last few 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 serious social unrest affecting their country: Always Ready will host Mirassol in Lanús’ 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 crisis 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, economic decline, and wage demands.

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

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

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

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