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May 15, 2024

Brazil halts League Matches for two rounds due to Inundation – Brazilian Serie A

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s soccer confederation has postponed the following two rounds of its national league, citing the devastating impact of severe flooding in the country’s southern region. This decision comes as a response to the widespread destruction caused by the floods, which have left many communities in crisis. The safety and well-being of players, officials, and fans are the top priority, prompting this necessary action to ensure that the league can resume under safer conditions. As the situation evolves, the confederation closely monitors developments in the affected areas to determine the best action.

The decision made on Wednesday to postpone the upcoming matches came in response to a formal request from 15 of the 20 clubs in the premier division for a suspension of league activities. This collective appeal highlights the urgency of the situation, as these clubs recognized the severity of the ongoing challenges posed by the floods. The overwhelming consensus among the teams underscores a shared commitment to prioritizing the safety of players, staff, and supporters. In light of these circumstances, the confederation acted swiftly to address the concerns raised by the clubs, ensuring that the league can focus on recovery efforts during this critical time.

The state of Rio Grande do Sul remains severely inundated, with floodwaters continuing to impact several communities and disrupt daily life. This natural disaster has particularly affected the local soccer landscape, affecting the Porto Alegre rivals Gremio, Internacional, and Juventude, a club based in the countryside. All of these clubs compete in Brazil’s top-flight first division. 

Authorities have issued grim reports indicating that at least 149 lives have been tragically lost due to the catastrophic flooding, with search and rescue operations still underway for an additional 108 individuals who are currently unaccounted for. The scale of the disaster has raised serious concerns for the affected families and communities, as emergency services work tirelessly to assist those in need and assess the full extent of the damage. The ongoing crisis highlights the human toll and the challenges local sports teams face amid such overwhelming circumstances.

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Over 620,000 people have been compelled to evacuate their homes due to the devastating effects of the flooding, leaving countless families displaced and in urgent need of assistance. Many individuals face uncertain futures as they seek shelter, food, and other essential resources after this disaster. 

In light of these circumstances, if conditions improve in southern Brazil, the soccer league is tentatively scheduled to resume with the ninth round on June 1. This resumption will be contingent upon recovering the affected areas and the overall safety of players and fans. Meanwhile, the previously planned seventh and eighth rounds will be rescheduled to accommodate the ongoing recovery efforts and allow a more stable environment to hold matches. The league’s governing bodies are committed to ensuring that the sport can return in a manner that respects the challenges the local communities face.

“We cannot forget that sport and society walk hand in hand, and cannot separate in such a difficult moment for the Brazilian people,” the country’s soccer body said in a statement. It added the suspension of matches of the top-flight division until May 27 does not apply to other competitions.

Brazil’s sports minister, André Fufuca, made a similar request on Friday, calling for suspending all national tournaments for men, women, and under-20 teams. The Brazilian soccer federation had already agreed to halt all soccer activities in the southern state, which shares borders with Uruguay and Argentina, for 20 days. 

The South American soccer governing body, CONMEBOL, also postponed two club matches in the affected region.

While Internacional’s Beira-Rio Stadium is no longer flooded, the Arena do Gremio remains submerged in the state capital, Porto Alegre. Juventude’s Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, located on the outskirts of Caxias do Sul, experienced less severe impacts. 

Airports in Porto Alegre and Caxias do Sul are currently closed, and water supplies remain critically low, with hotels fully booked. All three clubs from the Rio Grande do Sul had their matches in the fifth round of the Brazilian league postponed during the weekend the floods began. International is currently in 10th place, Gremio is in 12th, and Juventude is in 15th.

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