Conmebol suspends the Libertadores and Sudamericana matches in Colombia

The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) suspended this Monday the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana matches that were going to be played this week in Colombia, where this day a 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook a good part of the South American country and, so far, has left at least 132 dead.

Through a statement, Conmebol expressed its “deepest solidarity with the Colombian people” after the tragedy, while reporting that the situation warrants the suspension of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 match between Deportes Tolima and the Ecuadorian Independiente del Valle.

This match was scheduled for Tuesday, August 11 from 7:30 p.m. local time (00:30 GMT on Wednesday) at the Manuel Murillo Toro Stadium, in the city of Ibagué.

Likewise, the entity reported the suspension of the match between the Colombian Santa Fe and the Argentine River Plate for the Copa Sudamericana, and that it was scheduled for this Wednesday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m. local time (00:30 GMT on Thursday) at the Nemesio Camacho Stadium in Bogotá, better known as ‘El Campín’.

In its statement, Conmebol expressed that the decision responds to the need to “preserve the safety of everyone” and in “respect for the victims” left by the earthquake. Likewise, the rector of South American football reiterated his solidarity and “accompaniment in this difficult moment” for Colombia, while, he said, he will soon offer “more information about the rescheduling” of these matches.

The earthquake, which has led the Colombian Government to declare the situation a “national disaster”, was felt in Bogotá, Cali, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, Medellín and other cities in the center and west of the country, as well as in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.