Brazil coach Tite criticises Copa America's organisers once again after loss in final to Argentina

Tite criticised the pitches used in the Copa America and said that the players were put at risk because the tournament was thrown together with just two weeks notice.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 10: Tite head coach of Brazil looks on prior to the final of Copa America Brazil 2021 between Brazil and Argentina at Maracana Stadium on July 10, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Brazil coach Tite hit out at the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) on Saturday, criticising the organisation and singling out the president just moments after Brazil lost in the final to Argentina.

Tite criticised the pitches used in the tournament and said that the players were put at risk because the tournament was thrown together with just two weeks notice. This year's Copa America was supposed to be held in Colombia and Argentina but was moved after civil unrest in the former and a surge in COVID-19 cases in the latter.

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Brazil's far-right president Jair Bolsonaro stepped in and agreed to host all 28 games. Tite said that the planning was hurried and problematic for the teams and players involved.

"The organisation left a lot to be desired," he said, "The pitches were poor. The players were put at an excessive risk. This shouldn't happen in a big tournament such as this one."

"I am talking specifically about the man responsible, Alejandro (Dominguez), who is the President of Conmebol," he added.

Tite made similar criticisms about the pitches earlier in the tournament and was fined $5,000.

The Brazilian players also criticised CONMEBOL on the eve of the opening match, saying the organisation was "inadequate".

Tite's criticisms came moments after Argentina won 1-0 to end a 28-year trophy drought and win the Copa America for a record-equalling 15th time. The defeat was Brazil's first since a friendly loss in 2019 and their first competitive defeat since going down to Belgium in the 2018 World Cup.

The experienced coach praised the work of his opposite number Lionel Scaloni but was scathing of the way Argentina slowed the game down after it took the lead midway through the first half.

"The game was so stop-start," he said, "We wanted to play but there was anti-football. The whole time there was diving for fouls and then they took forever to take them, the referee didn't keep the game going. The strategy was to break up the play."