On-again, off-again Brazilian football league during Covid-19

Welcome back to the Brazil Sports newsletter. This week, a tortuous tale of football, rivalry, Covid-19, and the court system. Flamengo eventually did play Palmeiras in the most controversial match of the year. Enjoy your read!

Football in Covid-19 times: The game that never was … but then was

The headline fixture of this weekend’s Brazilian league saw champions Flamengo travel to São Paulo to take on Palmeiras. As the two richest clubs in the country, with the most expensive squads, the pair have developed a bitter rivalry in recent years. Sunday’s confrontation was no different, filled with back-biting, twists and turns, bizarre decisions, and drama — all of this before a ball was ever kicked.

Indeed, Palmeiras v. Flamengo looked unlikely to take place when a Rio de Janeiro labor court issued an order to postpone the game, as the away side had a total of 36 members of staff infected with the coronavirus — including an incredible 19 players.

The outbreak among Flamengo’s employees got completely out of hand as the team returned from their Copa Libertadores win against Barcelona in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Seven players had already tested positive before the game, leading to fears that the match would be postponed. The game went ahead, Flamengo won 2-1, and returned to Brazil with 36 positive cases of the coronavirus.

With only 13 first-team players fit for the match against Palmeiras, Flamengo successfully petitioned for the game to be called off. But at the 11th hour — or, more accurately, 20 minutes before kick-off — the decision was overturned and the game went ahead.

Reap what you sow? Many have pointed out the irony that Flamengo has consistently been on the side of...