A congested schedule, last-minute venue changes and empty stands all marred what is supposed to be the pinnacle of South American women’s club football

This year’s Copa Libertadores Femenina, the principal women’s football club tournament in South America, ended with mixed emotions on Saturday. Corinthians went through the finals undefeated and secured their fifth title at the Estádio Defensores del Chaco, in Paraguay, defeating Colombia’s Santa Fe 2-0 in a thrilling final.

Vic Albuquerque and Érika scored the decisive goals but as the players celebrated on the pitch, they also shared a protest video on their social media accounts, criticising the tournament’s conditions. “We won, but not everything is a party,” they said. “Last-minute venue changes, lack of publicity, poor pitches, risk of injury, having only 20 players, games every three days, empty stadiums, no warm-ups allowed on the pitch, inadequate infrastructure … it is disrespectful.”

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