(photo: Gustavo Aleixo/Cruzeiro)
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced this Wednesday (1/5) the postponement of a series of games involving teams from Rio Grande do Sul in national competitions. Among them, Cruzeiro’s clash with Internacional, for the Brazilian Championship, previously scheduled for this Saturday (4/5).
The reason is the heavy rains that have been punishing Rio Grande do Sul in recent days – and the forecast of new occurrences.
As a precautionary measure, the CBF decided to postpone “all matches scheduled in the State and involving teams from Rio Grande do Sul as visitors until Monday (6) in all competitions and divisions of Brazilian football” (read the full note at the end of this article).
Cruzeiro and Internacional would face each other this Saturday, starting at 9pm, at Mineirão, in the fifth round of the Brazilian Championship. The CBF has not yet defined a new date for the duel.
Two other games in the Brasileirão round were postponed, as they involve clubs from Rio Grande do Sul:
- Grêmio x Criciúma
- Youth x Atlético-GO
Matches in Series B, C and D for men and A1, A2 and A3 for women were also postponed.
Read the CBF note
Due to the heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul and the forecast of new severe weather events, the CBF informs that it has postponed all matches scheduled in the State and involving teams from Rio Grande do Sul as visitors until Monday (6) in all competitions and divisions of the Brazilian football.
The CBF’s decision is based on the notorious emergency scenario throughout the State, ratified in letters sent by the Governor and the Chief of Civil Defense of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The CBF understands that the priority at the moment is serving the population and of solidarity.
The CBF, in its capacity as the national football administration entity in Brazil, reiterates its commitment to supporting the authorities and the population of Rio Grande do Sul, and expresses all its solidarity.
CBF’s justification for postponing the games
Force majeure. Considering the extraordinary weather events that have occurred throughout Rio Grande do Sul in recent days, with historic rainfall volumes, causing flooding and road blockages that prevent the safe movement of delegations and referee teams to matches within and outside the state, and which are seriously affecting the local population;
Considering the letter received from the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul and the Chief of Civil Defense of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, as the priority at the moment is serving the population and there are no conditions to guarantee the safety of any sporting event, as well as there are the forecast of new severe and extraordinary weather events;
Considering the need for public bodies to allocate their efforts to serving the population and even designating national security forces to support and safeguard the population of Rio Grande do Sul.
Júlio Avelar, competition director
