Sports minister wants Brazilian league to halt amid floods

The Grêmio Arena, in Porto Alegre. Photo: Isaac Fontana/EFE/Folhapress

Brazilian Sports Minister André Fufuca said he would request the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the country’s top football authority, to suspend all matches due to the floods hitting the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

“Given the scenario of public calamity and the severe consequences of the floods for the population of Rio Grande do Sul, we will request CBF for the temporary suspension of both men’s and women’s football leagues,” Mr. Fufuca said in a Thursday interview with ESPN Brasil.

There are currently three Rio Grande do Sul teams playing in Brazil’s top-flight division: Grêmio, Internacional (from Porto Alegre, the state capital), and Juventude (from Caxias do Sul). With their stadiums under water and flights suspended, they persuaded the national football authorities to suspend games until May 27.

The flooded stadiums have been converted into donation collection points for the victims of the tragedy. Meanwhile, squads of both Porto Alegre teams (as well as others in Rio Grande do Sul state) are unable to train or take part in matches, which is already affecting the national football calendar.

Brazil’s top TV newscast showed current and former Grêmio and Internacional players — two bitter rivals — joining forces to volunteer in rescue missions and deliver food and clothing donations on Thursday.

“[The league] should be halted,” Mr. Fufuca said. “It is a humanitarian and sporting loss. Stopping for two weeks would be reasonable. We will send a letter to the CBF on Friday” he added. The Sports Ministry did not reply to The Brazilian Report on whether the letter has already been sent.

The chances of the Brazilian Football Confederation imposing a blanket suspension, however, are slim — and far from being a consensus among top-division clubs.

According to sources consulted by The Brazilian Report’s Lucas Berti, the main reason that a full postponement is not on the cards would be the immense challenge of rearranging Brazil’s already packed-to-the-brim football calendar.

According to state authorities, more than 1.9 million have been affected by the ongoing Rio Grande do Sul crisis. The death toll currently sits at 113 people, with another 146 missing. Over 337,000 people have been displaced, more than 69,000 of whom are in shelters.