Brazillian Judge calls off league match

A Brazilian judge on Saturday called off the league match between Palmeiras and Flamengo due to be played on Sunday.

This was after at least 16 players from the Rio club as well as the team coach tested positive for COVID-19.

Flamengo said it only had nine outfield players and three goalkeepers available for the match, which will pit last year’s champions against home club, Palmeiras.

Palmeiras are the only team in the Serie A to remain unbeaten after 10 games.

The decision, taken by a Rio de Janeiro labour court and reported by Brazilian news sites, followed an appeal by the union of football club employees.

The union said its members and their families would be at risk if the game went ahead.

Both the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the country’s sports tribunal had rejected Flamengo’s request to halt the game.

The CBF said clubs had the right to register 40 players and so Flamengo should have enough players available.

It has not yet responded to the court decision.

Brazil has recorded the second-highest number of coronavirus deaths after the U.S.

More than 140,000 Brazilians have died from the virus.

Football restarted in the country in June with Flamengo kicking off the Rio de Janeiro state championship.