September 23 – Brazilian champions Flamengo wrapped up a dramatic week in the Copa Libertadores with a hard-fought 1-2 win against Barcelona in a game that had long been in doubt after local authorities in Ecuador closed the stadium.
The Rio club are accustomed to their share of drama in the continent’s premier club competition, but navigating the recent sporting and emotional roller coaster in the Copa Libertadores has been particularly demanding.
Last Thursday, Independente Del Valle humiliated the reigning South American champions 5-0 at the altitude of Quito, a result that left Domenec Torrent, long-term assistant coach of Pep Guardiola, even more embattled at a club where he has struggled to emerge from the long shadow of Jorge Jesus.
But the descent for Tuesday’s match against Barcelona in Guayaquil at sea level didn’t go any smoother. A training session was cancelled due to activity from a local volcano, seven players and two members of staff tested positive for the coronavirus in Ecuador and star striker Gabriel Barbosa was out injured.
The club chartered a flight with four extra players, but without authorisation to enter Peruvian air space the plane had to turn back and wait for the red tape to be sorted out.
Even so, local authorities didn’t take well to Flamengo’s delegation with infected personnel. They had staff inspect the Flamengo hotel and concluded the match shouldn’t be played. After Conmebol refused to suspend the game, they took matters into their own hands and closed the venue for the match.
It was the signal for behind-the-scenes politicking and suddenly Ecuador’s national health authorities disagreed with the local health authorities and authorised the match to go head after all. Flamengo went on to win the match 2-1 to revive their Libertadores campaign and wrap up a dramatic night that will pose serious questions from Conmebol and the lengths the governing body is prepared to go to ensure matches can go ahead.
In just over two weeks, Conmebol has scheduled qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, which will unite players from around the world, potentially increasing the risk of contagion. Last Friday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that a protocol for the South American qualifiers would be ready this week, but the Flamengo match clearly demonstrated that playing in South America can be a health hazard these days.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734925140labto1734925140ofdlr1734925140owedi1734925140sni@o1734925140fni1734925140