World Soccer - UK 2020-05)

FOOTBALL TAKES

A BACKSEAT

With matches cancelled, the continent faces a period of great upheaval

with worries over money and climate adding to an uncertain future

GLOBAL SHUTDOWN

South America

W

O
RD

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V

ick

er

y

T

he Copa Libertadores certainly

went out with a bang. The last

match before the coronavirus

suspension was Brazil’s fiercest

derby, the Porto Alegre clash between

Gremio and Internacional. There were no

goals, but there were eight sendings off,

and earlier that evening the competition

itself was shown the red card.

When the suspension was announced

the immediate reaction of some was that

it was an overreaction. Opinions, however,

changed quickly.

There had not been a spare seat in the

house when Gremio hosted Internacional

on the Thursday, and all had seemed

completely normal. But when Gremio

took the field again three days later it was

for a game taking place behind closed

doors and with the team playing under

protest. Gremio lined up for the team

photo wearing masks to make the point

that, as players, they were being exposed

to unnecessary risks. Within a couple of

Safety first..Gremio players

take no chances ahead of the

game against Sao Luiz