Soccer: Police to protect Brazil

Federal police agents will fly to Colombia with the Brazil squad to protect the players during the Copa America.

Brazilian FA president Ricardo Teixeira said the agents will work with Colombian police and shadow the team during the 18-day tournament.

Teixeira said he asked the government in June for a plan to guarantee the team's safety "considering the news of terrorism affecting the country."

Political killings and kidnappings led the South American Soccer Confederation to suspend the Copa.

But in a surprising turnaround, the confederation reversed its decision last week and confirmed the tournament would go ahead in Colombia.

Canada dropped out, claiming it had released its players when the tournament was suspended and couldn't bring them back on such short notice. Argentina may follow suit.

Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari played down the concerns, saying his squad "will be concentrating on the games and not worried about what might happen."