Brazil government wants all local soccer suspended due to massive floods in the south
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — Brazil’s government urged the country’s soccer officials to suspend all tournaments on Friday because of massive floods in the south.
More heavy rain is expected in Rio Grande do Sul state into the weekend, which could worsen the situation for millions of people and further delay the cleaning of the inundated stadia of top-flight clubs Gremio, Internacional and Juventude.
At least 107 people have died because of the floods and another 134 are missing, authorities say. More than 230,000 are displaced and aware they might not be able to return home for another two weeks.
The Brazilian Football Confederation has yet to respond to sports minister André Fufuca asking for a halt to all nation-wide tournaments, for men, women and under-20s. This week, the CBF agreed to suspend for 20 days all soccer activity in the southern state, which borders Uruguay and Argentina. The situation will be reassessed on May 27. South American soccer body CONMEBOL also suspended two club matches in the region.