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Brazil’s association postpones league games due to flooding

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced on Tuesday that certain National League matches will be postponed for the next 20 days due to severe flooding.

The state of Rio Grande do Sul has been hit by floods since last week and the three clubs based there, Internacional, Gremio and Juventude, had asked the CBF to postpone games.

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“The CBF announces that all matches involving teams from Rio Grande do Sul in national competitions, whether home or away, are postponed until May 27, 2024,” the CBF said in a press release.

According to authorities, at least 83 people have been killed in the region over the past seven days and another 111 are missing.

The Internacional and Grêmio stadiums in the state capital Porto Alegre were flooded and severely damaged by the water.

On Tuesday, Neymar encouraged his social media followers to help in any way they can, saying: “This post is to encourage people to help even more. I would like to thank my aircraft pilots and everyone involved. I’m here from afar praying for everything to go back to normal.”

“The absolute priority at this moment is to support the thousands of people who have been hit,” Internacional said in a statement. “We ask for understanding, solidarity, empathy and support in such a delicate and extraordinary moment.”

The weekend games of the fifth round of the Brazilian league were suspended for all three clubs. Internacional is in ninth place with seven points, three behind leaders Athletico Paranaense.

Grêmio is in 11th place with six points and Juventude has five competition points.

The rains forced more than 80,000 people to leave their homes. About 15,000 people have sought refuge in schools, gymnasiums and other emergency shelters.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Rio Grande do Sul for the second time on Sunday, accompanied by Defense Minister José Múcio, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Environment Minister Marina Silva, among others.

The leftist leader and his team monitored the flooded streets of Porto Alegre from a helicopter.

During Sunday Mass at the Vatican, Pope Francis said he was praying for the people of the state.