Copa America sent back to Colombia but in 2002

South America's Copa tournament has been cancelled until next year but will still go ahead in Colombia.

"The Copa America will be played next year in the republic of Colombia at a date to be established," said South American Football Confederation (CSF) president Nicolas Leoz after a meeting of the organisation's directors in Buenos Aires.

Over the past week nine of the ten competitors for the latest edition of the oldest international tournament in international football have agitated against sending the competition to Colombia after the kidnapping of the Colombian vice-president by armed rebels on a country trip on Tuesday.

Colombia were due to host the event from July 11th despite a wave of recent violence in a 37 year civil war that has seen car bombings in three of its major cities during May.

Hernan Mejia Campuzuno was released on Thursday night by the armed rebels ending his kidnap ordeal and immediately campaigned for the event to stay in Colombia.

By then the South American Football Confederation had suspended the event and held discussions to move the games to Brazil.

Colombia's federation threatened to boycott the event if it was reconvened in Brazil or at another host country.

Campuzano was in Buenos Aires to support Colombia's president Andres Pastrana as he lobbied successfully for the reinstatement of the Copa in his country but next year.

"The Copa America should be in Colombia. Maybe it's an unsafe country but so are many others in the world " said Campuzano.

But other issues will now dominate the discussion over the Copa's future.

There is no likelihood that Colombia's 37 year civil insurrection will be over either militarily or through negotiation by next July.

The problems that made the Copa untenable next month are not going to go away.

Most of South America's top players were not willing to take part in the Colombian event after a wave of violence in recent months.

Brazil star Rivaldo confirmed this week that he would not take part in the Copa citing fatigue but Paraguay captain Jose Luis Chilavert says he will not be at the Copa because of fears that civil unrest and violence in Colombia could see squads threatened. The Argentina squad did receive death threats through their embassy in Bogota.

There were four attempts made by other countries to dump Colombia as Copa hosts before the bombings and the kidnapping of Campuzano.

Rivaldo intended to quit the Copa because he wanted a holiday as did other top stars.

They are looking ahead to the 2002 World Cup finals and now face a July to July season starting next month with the Copa to take place before the World Cup in January and February and right across the season in Europe.