Neo-rituals under construction. How and what do the finals of the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores tell us?

Abstract

This paper analyses the ritualization that has evolved around the Copa Libertadores de América finals: the most important football tournament in South America at club level. It seeks to understand its evolution from the beginning of the twenty-first century, paying attention to the confrontation between different national realities and the subcontinental institutions that govern football in the region, particularly the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL). Applying a methodology based on the audiovisual dimension of the event, and analysing multiple categories of ritualization, it can be seen that the institutional weakness of CONMEBOL has hindered the transmission of a clear message via the tournament. This has made it difficult for the tournament to consolidate itself as a unifying force for football in the region, and has prevented CONMEBOL, at least so far, from being able to lead a citizenship project around football in South America.