Football stadiums have been caught up in the floods causing havoc across the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. As a result of the floods, the home grounds of Grêmio and Internacional are currently under water.
A drone view shows the flooded Arena Gremio stadium in Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, May 6. REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli https://t.co/Xf76zqYlwe https://t.co/Xf76zqYlwe
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Flood causes devastation in Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul has been affected in many ways due to the chaos caused by the floods. Thousands of people have been forced away from their homes, with over 90 people killed and 131 reported missing. Many famous landmarks in the state capital of Porto Alegre are now under water. Flights going in and out of the region have been suspended, and the majority of state roads have been destroyed.
Southern stadiums hit hard by floods
Grêmio and Internacional’s stadiums have been flooded, meaning that the players cannot train or play matches. Juventude’s home ground, which is based in the countryside, is also in danger of being flooded in the coming days. On Tuesday, May 7, the Brazilian Football Confederation announced that teams in the Rio Grande do Sul region will have their matches postponed for at least 20 days.
A statement read: “(The Brazilian soccer confederation) stresses its unrestricted support so all measures and actions are adopted for the benefit of the population, which is the maximum priority.”
The South American soccer confederation CONMEBOL also announced Grêmio’s next group-stage match in the Copa Libertadores, as well as Internacional’s upcoming fixture in the Copa Sudamericana. A full postponement of the Brazilian football calendar is considered unlikely due to the difficulty of rearranging an already packed schedule across the country.