Japan drops out of Copa America, Spain informally invited

Japan officially dropped out Monday of the Copa America scheduled for July in Argentina, as the Asian country continues to cope with last month's earthquake and tsunami and the continuing nuclear crisis.
Japan was to play as a guest the prestigious South American football tournament. In its place, Argentine football authorities have contacted world champions Spain, though the United States, Honduras and Costa Rica are also candidates.

"The priority for (the Japanese) is to save lives and to rebuild the country," Nestor Benitez, spokesman of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol), told Paraguayan radio.

Sources at Conmebol told the German Press Agency dpa that Japan Football Association President Junji Ogura visited Conmebol President Nicolas Leoz to inform him of the decision. Leoz was "deeply" saddened by Japan's absence from the tournament, though he completely understood the decision.

North American, Central American and Caribbean teams are set to play the Gold Cup from June 5-25, just a week before the start of the Copa America. Mexico, a guest in the South American tournament, is set to deploy an under-23 team in the tournament from July 1-24 in Argentina.

Sources at the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) told dpa that Argentine Football Federation President Julio Grondona had called RFEF President Angel Villar.

"(Grondona) suggested to him that we play the tournament," the source said. "We have not made a decision yet."