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Swine flu fails to scare Copa Libertadores

BUENOS AIRES - Next week's first-leg match of the Copa Libertadores final will go ahead in La Plata, Argentina, despite a swine flu outbreak that is blamed in the deaths of at least 44 people in the country.

BUENOS AIRES - Next week's first-leg match of the Copa Libertadores final will go ahead in La Plata, Argentina, despite a swine flu outbreak that is blamed in the deaths of at least 44 people in the country.

The governing body of South American football - CONMEBOL - said the match between Argentine club Estudiantes and Brazilian club Cruzeiro would be played Wednesday and second-leg on July 15 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to determine the winner of Latin America's most important club competition.

"We haven't received any notice from anybody about the final," said CONMEBOL secretary Eduardo Deluca.

Cruzeiro said it intended to play the match unless Argentine health officials stepped in to stop it.

Cruzeiro c lub president Zeze Perrella said they would abide by any ruling made by CONMEBOL.

Cruzeiro reached the final on Thursday after eliminating fellow Brazilian club Gremio 5-3 on aggregate over two games. Estudiantes eliminated Uruguay's Nacional on Wednesday to advance.

Two months ago, Sao Paulo of Brazil and Nacional refused to play Copa Libertadores matches in Mexico during an outbreak of swine flu in that country. - Sapa-AP

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