DR Congo Condemns Cancellation of Chile Friendly Over Ebola Fears

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has strongly criticised the cancellation of its planned international friendly match against Chile, describing the decision as unfair and damaging to the team's preparations for upcoming competitions.

The match was scheduled to take place on June 9 in La Linea de la Concepcion, a town in southern Spain, but local authorities called off the fixture over concerns related to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DR Congo.

Mayor Juan Franco announced that he had signed an official decree prohibiting the match after receiving recommendations from local health authorities. According to him, a report from the town's health service advised against hosting the game due to potential public health risks.

The decision has sparked criticism from Congolese officials, who argue that the concerns are misplaced given the circumstances surrounding the team's preparations.

Reports indicate that the DR Congo national team has been based in Belgium for approximately three weeks as part of its training programme ahead of future international competitions. None of the 26 players in the squad is currently based in DR Congo or travelled directly from the country to the training camp.

While some members of the team's support staff and supporters may have travelled from DR Congo, officials maintain that the players themselves pose no health risk.

Reacting to the development, DR Congo's Minister of Communication, Patrick Muyaya, expressed disappointment over the cancellation.

Speaking during a virtual press conference organised by the World Health Organization, Muyaya argued that the decision had disrupted the national team's preparations and could be viewed as discriminatory.

He stressed that the squad had been training outside the country for several weeks and questioned the basis for linking the players to the Ebola outbreak.

The cancelled match was intended to serve as an important part of DR Congo's preparations for upcoming international assignments, including its World Cup qualifying campaign.

The incident has reignited discussions about the balance between public health concerns and sporting activities, particularly when national teams from affected countries are involved in international competitions.