A planned international friendly match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile has been cancelled in Spain due to concerns surrounding an Ebola outbreak in parts of Central Africa.
The match was scheduled to take place on June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion, a municipality in southern Spain.
However, local authorities decided to prohibit the fixture after receiving health advice warning of potential risks associated with hosting the event.
Juan Franco, the mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion, confirmed the decision in an official decree. According to Franco, a report from the municipality’s health service strongly advised against allowing the match to go ahead.
“A report by the head of the mayoralty’s health service of La Linea advised categorically against hosting the match given the health risks which might arise,” Franco said.
The cancellation comes amid heightened vigilance over Ebola, a severe viral disease that has caused outbreaks in several African countries over the years.
Although health experts note that Ebola is not easily transmitted and requires direct contact with infected bodily fluids, authorities often adopt precautionary measures when public health concerns arise.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has previously experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks and has worked closely with international health agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to contain and manage the disease.
The country has made significant progress in strengthening its disease surveillance and response systems, but concerns over outbreaks continue to attract global attention.
For Chile, the cancellation means a disruption to preparations for upcoming international competitions, while DR Congo will also need to adjust its schedule ahead of future fixtures.
Neither the Congolese Football Federation nor the Chilean Football Federation immediately announced alternative plans following the cancellation.
