The ball comes to a halt in South America in the wake of the tragedy. CONMEBOL announced on Monday the official suspension of the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana matches that were scheduled for this week in Colombia. This decision comes in response to the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that shook much of the country, leaving a preliminary death toll of at least 111 people and 87 injured.
In an official statement, South American soccer’s governing body expressed its “deepest solidarity with the Colombian people.” CONMEBOL explained that this drastic measure is driven by the urgent need to ensure the safety of everyone involved and serves as a sign of absolute respect for the victims and those affected by this catastrophe.
The Affected Matches
This precautionary measure directly impacts two of the most anticipated matches in the continental tournaments:
- Deportes Tolima vs. Independiente del Valle (Copa Libertadores): The match, part of the Round of 16, was scheduled for Tuesday, August 11, at 7:30 p.m. (local time) at the Manuel Murillo Toro Stadium in the city of Ibagué.
- Independiente Santa Fe vs. River Plate (Copa Sudamericana): This highly anticipated match, scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Nemesio Camacho El Campín Stadium in Bogotá, has also been postponed.
So far, CONMEBOL has not set new dates for rescheduling either match. The governing body announced that the new schedules will be communicated only once the necessary guarantees and conditions for playing the matches are in place.
National Emergency in Colombia
A strong earthquake struck Western Colombia on Monday morning. Authorities have reported severe damage to infrastructure, including collapsed buildings and affected hospitals, and are continuing rescue efforts to free people trapped under the rubble.
The impact of the earthquake was strongly felt in major cities such as Bogotá, Cali, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, and even reached border areas of neighboring countries.
Given the magnitude of the tragedy, the Colombian government has officially declared a national state of emergency. In these moments of mourning and mobilization, the country’s efforts are fully focused on assisting the victims, demonstrating that today, sports must…
