REUTERS

The 2021 Copa America will no longer feature games in co-host Colombia after the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) decided on Thursday to move games away from the country after a wave of civil unrest there.

The 2021 tournament was due to be held jointly by Colombia and Argentina

It was the first time in its 105-year history that a co-hosting model had been chosen but it appears weeks of protest in Colombia led to Thursday’s decision.

The tournament features all 10 South American nations and was due to kick off in Buenos Aires on June 13 and culminate with the final in the Colombian city of Barranquilla on July 11.

“CONMEBOL guarantees the realisation of the 2021 Copa America and in the coming days will inform on the relocation of those games that were to be held in Colombia,” the organisation said in a statement.

CONMEBOL rejected an appeal from Colombia to move the tournament to the end of the year.

Argentina earlier this week offered to host the whole tournament amid weeks of anti-government protests in Colombia which have killed at least 15 people.

Fifteen games had been slated for Colombia and 13 games are scheduled for Argentina.