By order of President Márcio Braga, Flamengo's lawyers filed a representation with FIFA on Thursday, the 17th, to avoid games at altitudes above 2.750 meters in the Copa Libertadores.

As the Libertadores regulations determine that the club must contact CONMEBOL through the CBF, President Márcio Braga sent a request this Wednesday, the 16th, for the entity to take a stand in defense of the health of Brazilian athletes and demand that FIFA's determination prohibiting games above 2.750 meters of altitude be observed in the competition's games.

The CONMEBOL Executive Committee will meet on the 22nd in Santiago, Chile, to discuss the matter. Brazil's representative will be Marco Polo Del Nero, President of the São Paulo Football Federation, who has already committed to defending FIFA's position.

Furthermore, President Marcio Braga ordered Flamengo's lawyers to study the measures that can be adopted with FIFA itself.

Official letter sent to the CBF

Rio de Janeiro, January 16, 2008

Brazilian Football Confederation\ Att.: Mr. Marco Antonio Teixeira\ General Secretary\

Most Illustrious Sir,

The FIFA Executive Committee, meeting in Tokyo on December 15, 2007, prohibited the holding of football matches, in its competitions, above 2.750 meters in altitude.

This decision was motivated by the recommendation of doctors specializing in the effects of altitude who participated in the seminar held in October 2007 at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.

We draw your attention to the opinion of our doctors, which is attached and concludes: “practicing physical activity at altitudes above 2.600 meters puts the health and even the lives of participants at risk.”

You can't play with people's lives.

Article 9, 9.1, of the Regulations of the SANTANDER LIBERTADORES DA AMÉRICA CUP states that the matches of this competition will observe the conditions and measures required for official FIFA competitions.

Therefore, in accordance with article 1, 1.8, of the Regulations of the SANTANDER LIBERTADORES DA AMERICA CUP, we request that you contact the CONMEBOL Executive Committee, which will meet in Santiago on January 22, so that it expressly adopts the limitation established by FIFA and that games are not held at extreme altitudes, which represent a serious risk to the lives of athletes.

Without further ado, we renew our assurances of the highest consideration and make ourselves available to, if possible, participate in this CONMEBOL meeting and defend this issue.

Best Regards,

MARCIO BAROUKEL DE SOUZA BRAGA\ FLAMENGO REGATTA CLUB\