Brazil. Floods and football. Update #3
Images, impacts, players and fixtures
“It is a catastrophe unlike anything most of us Brazilians have ever seen happening in the country” in Is there football in the flood? by Heloisa de Souza of The Good Football
Images
There has been a lot of powerful images helping to bring home the enormity, devastation and affects on the people of Rio Grande do Sul. See for instance,
Photos: Deadly Flooding in Southern Brazil in The Atlantic
Stunning images show the extent of flooding in southern Brazil from Reuters
And this short video which brings home the scale of flooding
Football stadia often feature in these pictures and here are two examples:
Impacts
The latest report from Reuters says there are now 143 deaths and 131 missing. Another report says there are 756 injured, 339,925 homeless and 71,398 people in shelters. As this newsletter goes out forecasts predict further, and potentially worse, flooding.
In a Guardian report a climatologist says that “the infrastructures were built for a climate that no longer exists … [and] … It’s likely that there will be properties that cannot be rebuilt in the same location due to the risk of new floods.”
The FT says that record temperatures are expected to continue to drive extreme weather and also draws attention to recent “Flooding in Kenya [which] has killed more than 200 people and displaced about 160,000 in recent weeks, while more than 100,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes in Guangdong, China”.
Players
I’m struggling to think of another event that has led to such a big collective response from footballers. Here is just a small selection:
This great thread from Datafut shows the efforts of several players from Rio Grande Do Sul clubs, Grêmio and Internacional. Players are helping out with everything from dealing with donations to physically lifting rescue flood victims through waters. Players from Juventude, also based in the region, have been in action too, including helping residents with the cleaning of their homes, taking donations, and speaking with affected families.
Add to this that players themselves have been playing a role in discussions on suspending the domestic league. On a Série A club captains' WhatsApp group the Juventude captain, Nenê, has made the case to fellow players.
Elsewhere, Barcelona’s Raphina, who is from the area, has made a video to support efforts. Ronaldinho, who is also from the area, will play a charity match, and Luis Suarez, a former Grêmio player, has sent a message of support. Players from Flamengo and Vasco have helped in the efforts to raise 26 tons of supplies for those effected. And former players of Internacional have recorded a video asking for help. Real Madrid’s, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Militão have also recorded a video, and Rodrygo also sent a message of support during the Champions League semi-final. There is plenty more happening too.
Clubs
The clubs in the affected areas continue to play an essential role in the response. This includes through communication with the people of Rio Grande do Sul and beyond, the use of club facilities, and the participation of their people in response efforts.
For the latest, please follow their twitter feeds: Grêmio FBPA, Gurias Gremistas, Sport Club Internacional, Gurias Coloradas, and E.C. Juventude.
Elsewhere, the President of Internacional has said "we want to make it very clear that we are not going to abandon our people, at this moment we are not going to leave Rio Grande do Sul and leave people here suffering". The President of Grêmio has said that he feels "attacked" when he sees football goal celebrations while the state is going through a calamity and is experiencing a moment of "survival".
Other clubs in Brazil have been showing their support for donations by helping in numerous ways including: an open training session by Atlético Mineiro raising R$ 666,090 and 10 tons of donations; São Paulo raising R$747,000 through an auction; Sport organized a charity bazaar of 2022 and 2023 shirts; Botafogo having a donation collection point at their stadium; and Leila Pereira, president of Palmeiras, providing a plane to take food and products to the region.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is also consulting with clubs in the top 3 leagues on a proposal that 5% of the income from their next games goes to assisting the response.
Future football fixtures
The situation is still evolving. Currently, just the teams in the affected region have had games postponed. This amounts to almost 90 games and includes Grêmio and Internacional matches in CONMEBOL tournaments (the equivalent of UEFA tournaments).
Further proposals are on the table. The Brazilian Sports Minister asked the CBF to consider a total suspension of the next three rounds. The proposal is supported by the three Série A clubs in Rio Grande do Sul. A representative body of many clubs is reported as supporting it too, though elsewhere it is said most clubs are against it. Players have also been expressing views, for instance, Bruno Uvini, of Vitória who supports a pause.
In response the CBF has just announced it will put off any decision until their President returns from FIFA Congress in Thailand and a CBF meeting is held on the 27th May. Following this, the Vice-President of Grêmio has said the CBF: 'don't understand what we're going through”.
In parallel, CONMEBOL has moved Grêmio and Internacional’s postponed games to June, though the locations of two of those games are still to be decided, and a report says “Management is still trying to postpone games”.
Other sports
Ítalo Ferreira, a Gold medalist surfer at the Tokyo Olympics, and fellow professional surfer, Lucas Chumbo have been on the front line helping efforts. Rowing athletes have halted their Olympic plans to work as volunteers in operations in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. Reuters reports on other athletes also doing the same. In other news, the Porto Alegre International Marathon has been postponed until September.
Donations
The Brazilian online crowdfunding site, Vakinha, has this donation page supported by a wide range of partners. The Rio Grande Do Sul (RS) State government also has a donation page here. If people know of other donation pages to signpost to, please say.
Housekeeping
Most of the information here is provided using online translation tools which affect their accuracy.
For more regular updates please follow the sources in the links. The Football and Climate Change Newsletter social media account is also endeavouring to repost developments.
Further emails to your inbox on the latest developments in Brazil may follow as and when.
Fran James (he/him)
Football and Climate Change Newsletter
footballandclimatechange@gmail.com
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Happy to report that Athletico Paranaense changed its stance on the paralyzation of Brasileirão, after that very inconsiderate statement from the club's president. As a fan, I was ashamed. Last night, CBF chose to delay the decision on that, though. Let's see what happens!