Brazil slow to act in sport on coronavirus

biggest country in South America has also been slowest in region to impose restrictions on large garings at sporting events as coronavirus continues to spread. Unlike neighbouring countries that have anunced tough measures since beginning of week, Brazil has been taking a more moderate approach.

As recently as Thursday night, more than 50,000 fans watched Copa Libertadores group st goalless clash between sourn Brazilian teams Gremio and Internacional in Porto Alegre.

Matches of traditional state tournaments were played Friday night to a few thousand fans and will go on this weekend, with only some games in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to be played behind closed doors.

In comparison, many or tournaments in soccer-crazy South America were suspended, including in Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. Three countries decided to keep playing, but only behind closed doors nationwide: Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.

Brazil's two biggest cities - Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo - contain most of country's 107 coronavirus cases registered so far. deaths have been reported, but government officials say y expect number of people affected to soar in next couple of weeks.

If Brazil's health ministry had t recommended empty stadia in Sao Paulo and Rio this weekend, many fans would have attended matches scheduled.

More than 40,000 had already bought tickets for two matches in Sao Paulo on Saturday, including a derby. Ar 20,000 were set for a Rio state league clash between Copa Libertadores winners Flamengo and Portuguesa.

“As re is order from health ministry, decisions are made by state governments,” Brazil's health ministry said in a statement. “ ministry makes recommendations, but each state has its contingency plans and takes its decision accordingly with ir parama.”

Or Brazilian soccer state bodies decided to play behind closed doors too, but some still insisted on allowing fans despite Friday's recommendations of health authorities that also suggested postponements and cancellations to all organizers of sporting events in nation.

A far different scenario has unfolded in Uruguay, where discussions about suspending sporting events were already well advanced before tiny country anunced its first coronavirus case on Friday. Hours after information was revealed, all soccer matches were suspended, even in youth divisions, and country's basketball competition was set to stop on Saturday.

In Argentina, where two people already died because of coronavirus, re are many loud voices calling for soccer at all during outbreak.

“This should be stopped. We can live with it, but how about people that need to work here every day? How can y do it?” asked Diego Maradona, w a coach at Gimnasia La Plata, in an interview with Fox Sports.

calmness of some Brazilian authorities is t followed by some players. Vasco da Gama defender Leandro Castán criticized a statement of Rio Gov. Wilson Witzel, who said playing behind closed doors this weekend will be eugh of a precaution because only players will be in danger.

“ risk is ours ... thanks for respect with athletes,” Castán said.

South America soccer body CONMEBOL has already suspended Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, which includes Brazilian clubs. It also had a request granted by FIFA to postpone two opening rounds of region's World Cup qualifiers.

Brazil has also been more moderate in or sports, such as mixed martial arts. An edition of UFC will be held Saturday night in capital Brasilia with fans inside.

Even though NBA has suspended its season, Brazil's basketball confederation believes it is eugh to postpone beginning of one of its two top leagues for a few weeks.

All matches of country's top volleyball tournament will go ahead behind closed doors too. Volleyball is Brazil's second most popular sport and draws tens of thousands of fans to its best matches.