Brazil’s top sports official calls for suspension of all league play due to flooding

In the wake of the devastating natural disaster in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s sports minister Andre Fufuca has urged the country’s football confederation (CBF) to suspend all football activities temporarily. The unprecedented flooding in the southern state has resulted in the death of at least 85 people, injuries to 372 individuals, and displacement of over 159,000 residents from their homes.

The CBF has already suspended games involving teams from Rio Grande do Sul, including Grêmio, Internacional, and Juventude. However, Fufuca believes that a broader suspension is necessary, encompassing all national football competitions, including both men’s and women’s games.

Fufuca emphasized the need for a halt in football activities considering the dire situation faced by the population of Rio Grande do Sul. He stated that it is both a humanitarian and sporting loss, calling for a two-week suspension of the Brazilian Men’s and Women’s Football Championships. Fufuca plans to formally request the suspension in a letter to the CBF, emphasizing the importance of dialogue to address the current crisis.