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CONMEBOL votes to exempt La Paz from altitude ban

South American soccer federations (CONMEBOL) have unanimously agreed to exempt La Paz from a ban that disallowed international soccer matches above 3,000m, defusing one of the last controversies over the restrictions that sparked outrage in Andean nations.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter released a statement on Saturday in Maracaibo, where he was to attend yesterday's Copa America final between Brazil and Argentina, that CONMEBOL officials unanimously approved Bolivia's request for the waiver for La Paz.

The move had been anticipated after Blatter announced in Guatemala City on July 6 that he was in favor of a waiver and that it was up to the other South American nations to give their approval.

In May, FIFA announced a ban on international matches played at more than 2,500m above sea level, a decision that ruled out several Andean cities.

After Andean nations -- led by Bolivian President Evo Morales -- complained, CONMEBOL unanimously protested the decision and FIFA eased the restriction to 3,000m. That cleared Colombia's capital of Bogota and Ecuador's capital Quito, but not La Paz (3,600m).

Morales continued his protest campaign to eliminate the ban, traveling to Zurich to lobby Blatter.

In a press conference on Friday, Blatter said medical experts from around the world would convene in Zurich in October to study the health effects of what he called "soccer in extreme conditions" -- snow, humidity, different hours of the day and also high altitude.

Even while granting the waiver, Blatter and CONMEBOL president Nicolas Leoz requested in their joint statement that Bolivia study the findings of the medical commission for its hosting of future competitions.

Blatter refused to answer a reporter's question on Friday about whether Cuzco, Peru, which is 3,400m above sea level, could also receive an eventual waiver.
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