Why the Americas’ finest must play in Venezuela

As sure as night follows day, FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta’s bleatings followed reports that Ronaldinho wanted to play in the Copa America.

“It would be better if he didn’t play,” whined Laporta. “I think he will reach an agreement in the interests of himself and Barcelona.”

Then, almost simultaneously, Barca’s Mexico defender, Rafael Marquez, comes down on the opposite side to Ron in the club versus country disease which is pandemic in world football.

But whether or not Mexico leave Marquez out of the Copa America because of his self-enforced absence from the preceding Gold Cup, there will be big names missing when the South American football championship starts in late June.

Clubs will, obviously, always act in their own interests, but their hypocrisy knows no bounds. To urge their players – against FIFA rules – not to take part in any continental championship is to betray the game.

There can be little doubt that the hidden gems which emerge from the tournament in Venezuela will find themselves snapped up by Europe’s elite clubs, only to be told that participation in future tournaments is a burden too far.

This is particularly hypocritical from Barca, who rely more than most on Latin American talent; as well as Ronaldinho (pictured above) and Marquez (left) in their squad there are: Leo Messi, Juliano Belletti, Edmilson, Thiago Motta, Javier Saviola and others.

The club would rather Ronaldinho and, no doubt the others, rest after a long season at home and abroad, but see just how many players they try to stop going to the European Championships in 14 months time.

Their fans would lynch Laporta if he said he had come to an arrangement with Spain that Carles Puyol and Xavi would sit out the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

The same protestations from the European paymasters will reverberate around the continent when the African Cup of Nations starts next January, but at least the Copa America takes place in the off-season.

Leaving aside Landon Donovan, you don’t hear the same noises coming out of the United States, even though they are playing back-to-back tournaments in June and July, right in the middle of the fledgling MLS season, which is trying to take advantage of the Beckham factor.

Brazil coach Dunga, to his credit, has indicated he will pick his strongest side, as has Argentina supreme Alfio Basile. The region’s superpowers must lead the way, but get ready for some mysterious injuries creeping in around the end of May, keeping players out for, say, six weeks?

Back at the Nou Camp, Argentina’s 19-year-old star Leo Messi (right) has pleaded to be on the plane for Venezuela. “If it were up to me, I would play every match in the national team’s shirt,” he said, committing himself to turning out for the lowly Under-20 World Cup in Canada if Basile, in his madness, leaves Messi behind.

The teenager’s attitude is commendable in an age when so many stars give their devotion to capitalism rather than patriotism. Pulling on the national shirt is too often a chore, rather than the honour it should be.

We need a Copa America full of the best talent the continent has to offer, otherwise the players, fans, nations AND clubs suffer – and the game dies a little more.

Ashley Gray