Conmebol announced the suspension of games scheduled for Colombia, valid for CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sul-Americana, following a strong earthquake that hit the country on Monday, July 10. The decision aims to guarantee the safety of everyone involved in the competitions.
The tremor, which reached magnitude 7.4, caused the death of more than 100 people, according to the latest official report from the Colombian government, and caused severe damage to several airports in the country, resulting in the halt of flights. The logistical interruption of air transport and the seriousness of the humanitarian situation were determining factors in the decision to postpone the departures.
Through an official statement published on its website, the entity that organizes South American football detailed the suspensions of two clashes that would be held in Colombian territory.
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The matches affected by the measure are:
- Deportes Tolima (Colombia) x Independiente del Valle (Ecuador), for the Libertadores, which was scheduled for July 11th.
- Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia) x River Plate (Argentina), for the South American Championship, originally scheduled for July 12th.
In the statement, Conmebol expressed its solidarity with Colombia, especially the football community. “In view of this exceptional situation, and to guarantee everyone’s safety and respect for the victims, the following matches are temporarily suspended”, informed the entity.
So far, Conmebol has not released new dates for these duels.
Complete message from Conmebol about the suspensions ##
The South American Football Confederation – CONMEBOL – reaffirms its deep solidarity with the Colombian people, impacted by the recent devastating earthquake. Our sincere condolences are extended to the families of the fatal and injured victims, as well as everyone affected by this tragedy.
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At a time of such difficulty, CONMEBOL expresses its support and affection for all of Colombia and, particularly, for the great local football family. Given the exceptional nature of the situation, and with the primary objective of ensuring everyone’s safety and demonstrating respect for the victims, the following matches are temporarily suspended:
Game #130: Deportes Tolima (Colombia) x Independiente del Valle (Ecuador)
Game #133: Independiente Santa Fe (Colombia) x River Plate (Argentina)
We reiterate our commitment to solidarity and support during this challenging period and will soon release additional information about rescheduling the games.