BARCELONA // The Spanish football federation is considering an offer to replace Japan at this summer's Copa America, with the president eager for the World Cup champions to play.
Angel Maria Villar said today the federation received an invitation from his Argentine counterpart Julio Grondona and the proposal will be heard by the federation's board of directors before a decision.
"I'm a supporter of the idea of Spain to participate in this tournament," Villar was quoted as saying by Spanish media. "I consider the proposal a great honour.
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"They've proposed it a number of times and it's something that Spanish football owes South America for all of the great players that have come to play here."
But Villar risks irking Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid, whose players make up the bulk of a team that has played every summer since winning the 2008 European Championship and looks unlikely to have another break until 2015.
Spain are looking to become the first European champions to defend their title after winning the World Cup in Poland and Ukraine next year. As the world champions they will also play the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil, the hosts for the World Cup a year later.
Japan's announced exit last night cut the South American championship in Argentina from July 1 to 24 to 11 teams. Costa Rica and Canada have also been mentioned as candidates to replace Japan, who pulled out because of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on March 11.
Japan planned to send a team largely made up of youth players to the tournament like Mexico, who was also invited.
