The earthquake in Colombia also halts South American football

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia has also had a consequence outside the scope of the humanitarian emergency: Conmebol, the South American football confederation, has suspended two international matches scheduled in the country in the coming hours.

The postponed matches are the Copa Libertadores game between Deportes Tolima and Independiente del Valle, scheduled in Ibagué, and the Copa Sudamericana match between Independiente Santa Fe and River Plate, scheduled in Bogotá. The confederation justified the decision by citing the need to protect the safety of those involved and to respect the victims of the earthquake.

“to preserve everyone’s safety and out of respect for the victims” — Conmebol, South American football confederation

The earthquake’s death toll, updated in the last few hours, has risen to at least 132 dead nationwide, with the city of Cali alone accounting for over 85 victims and 885 injured according to the local mayor. It is in this context that Conmebol chose to halt international sporting activity in the country, rather than proceed with the scheduled calendar.

The available dossier does not indicate whether other matches, besides the two postponed, were affected by the measure, nor whether a new date has already been set for the suspended matches to be rescheduled. It is also unclear whether the decision also applies to Colombian national competitions, since the information gathered refers exclusively to the two international competitions managed by Conmebol.

The suspension of the matches represents an indirect but concrete effect of the scale of the disaster: a natural event that, in addition to the human and material toll already documented, is also having repercussions on the continental sporting calendar, involving four clubs from three different countries — Colombia and Argentina, based on the teams mentioned in the postponed matches.