La Línea de la Concepción banned the June 9 match citing health risks from the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
6:28 PM
The mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, a city in southern Spain's Cádiz province, issued a decree on Tuesday prohibiting a friendly football match between Chile and the Democratic Republic of Congo scheduled for June 9 at the municipal stadium.
Mayor Juan Franco announced the ban in an audio recording released by the municipality, citing "a matter of sanitary prudence" and following recommendations from the regional government's health department. The decision was also based on a report from the city's health service chief that strongly advised against holding the match due to potential health risks.
The prohibition comes amid an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has been declared by the World Health Organization. According to authorities, the outbreak has resulted in over 900 cases and approximately 200 suspected deaths in the African nation. The epidemic has also affected neighboring territories, with the WHO reporting seven cases and one death in Uganda.
Franco expressed regret over the decision but characterized it as the most prudent course given the health situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the documentation presented regarding the virus.
The cancellation affects Chile's World Cup preparations. Felipe Correa, manager of Chile's national team, stated that the city authorities issued a decree that did not authorize the match under the conditions originally planned, which included public attendance. Despite the setback, Correa indicated that the Chilean Football Federation was actively seeking alternative solutions to ensure the match could still be played. He noted that discussions were ongoing to avoid a definitive suspension of the encounter.
The match was originally scheduled to take place in the Cádiz province in southern Spain as part of the teams' preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
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