Concacaf, the governing body of football in the Caribbean, North America and Central America, and the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) have launched a new tender process for the commercial rights to the 2016 Copa América Centenario national team tournament.
Concacaf and Conmebol yesterday (Monday) released a joint Request for Proposals to evaluate and select one or more organisations to represent the commercial rights for the special edition of the tournament, which is being hosted next year by the United States.
The two parties said proposing organisations will be able to submit relevant credentials, strategic recommendations and financial considerations, among other criteria, for the tournament’s broadcast rights, broadcast services and limited digital rights, along with sponsorship rights and services.
RFP responses will be evaluated by Copa América Centenario organisers Conmebol, Concacaf and the local organising committee. The LOC, a separate entity created by the US Soccer federation, will host and execute the tournament in the US.
The new procedure comes after Concacaf last week followed Conmebol in ending its commercial rights partnership with the Datisa joint venture company in relation to the Copa América Centenario.
Three of the main shareholders in Datisa were among those indicted by the US in May during the crackdown on corruption in world football. The US indictment said the three men conspired to win and retain lucrative media rights contracts from regional football federations through the payment of up to $110m (€96.7m) in bribes.
The three – Alejandro Burzaco, Hugo Jinkis and his son Mariano Jinkis – are all Argentine citizens. Burzaco has been extradited to the United States and has been released on bail after pleading not guilty. The Jinkises have been released from house arrest but cannot leave their places of residence longer than 24 hours without a judge’s authorisation.
The Copa América Centenario is scheduled to be hosted by the US in June 2016 as part of an initiative by the two governing bodies to mark the centenary of Conmebol. It will be the first time the event has been staged outside Latin America, coming one year after the 2015 edition took place in Chile and three years before the 2019 tournament heads to Brazil.