Swine flu fears prompt Brazilian club Cruzeiro to seek postponement of Copa Libertadores final

Flu prompts Cruzeiro to seek Copa postponement

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian soccer club Cruzeiro wants to postpone this week’s Copa Libertadores match against Estudiantes because of the swine flu outbreak in Argentina.

A spokesman for the club said on Monday that it made the request through Brazil’s football federation.

The official said Cruzeiro wants the match postponed or moved to another location — in Argentina or another country where swine flu is not a threat.

The governing body of South American football — CONMEBOL — said Friday the match would go ahead.

Cruzeiro said in a statement then that the club would abide by the decision.

But Cruzeiro director of soccer operations Eduardo Maluf now says he wants a guarantee from Brazilian and Argentine health officials over his players’ safety.

(This version CORRECTS Maluf to director of soccer operations.)