LA PAZ, Bolivia – A soccer injury has sidelined Bolivia’s President Evo Morales.

Vice-President Carlos Garcia said Wednesday that Morales won’t attend next week’s meeting of the Organization of American States in the Dominican Republic because he’s recovering from knee surgery.

Morales broke ligaments in his left knee during a weekend soccer game and underwent surgery Wednesday at a private clinic in Cochabamba.

The 56-year-old president is an avid soccer player, frequently sparring with journalists, union leaders, diplomats and even other presidents on the field. Morales also is cancelling a trip to visit the European Union parliament.

Morales’ absence appears to be unrelated to a feud between his ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and the OAS secretary-general, Luis Almagro.

Almagro has the region’s governments to consider suspending Venezuela’s membership for jailing opponents and blocking legislation passed by the opposition-controlled congress.

Morales has criticized Almagro, calling him part of “the North American imperial intervention” on his Twitter account Wednesday.