Mexican clubs to miss Libertadores in 2017

Mexican clubs will miss out on South America's continental cup, the Copa Libertadores, next year due to a scheduling conflict after an 18-year run, officials said Friday. While Mexico is part of the Caribbean and North and Central American confederation (CONCACAF), it has been participating in South America's marquee championship as a guest since 1998. But next year's Libertadores will run under a new schedule from February until November, coinciding with the final phase of the Mexican domestic league's Apertura tournament. Enrique Bonilla, president of Mexico's Liga MX, said Mexican clubs would have had to play 14 games within two months. "No club can sustain such a rhythm," he told a news conference, adding that it could be worse for teams that also qualify for the CONCACAF's Champions League. Bonilla said he hoped that South America's CONMEBOL federation can ensure that Mexican clubs can return to the tournament in 2018. "If they consider that what we put on the table isn't right, we will have to infinitely thank them for allowing us to participate in their tournament and we will always keep the door open to talk and renew any type of relationship," Bonilla told a news conference. The head of CONMEBOL, Alejandro Dominguez, said the "door remains open" for Mexico to return. Three Mexican teams have reached, and lost, the final in the Libertadores: Cruz Azul of Mexico City in 2001, Chivas of Guadalajara in 2010 and Tigres of Monterrey in 2015. Jorge Vergara, the owner of Chivas, one of Mexico's most popular clubs, backed the decision to stay out of the 2017 tournament, saying that the "Liga MX is more important than the Copa Libertadores" for Mexican teams.