They put their threat to work. The players of the Chilean selection have decided not to play the friendly match scheduled for November 19 in Lima against the team of Peru because of the social crisis that is shaking their country, announced the federation (ANFP), Wednesday, November 13 .
"The decision was adopted by the group after a meeting held in the morning," said the Chilean federation in a statement.
The decision comes as some players, some of whom are playing abroad, have expressed doubts about the opportunity to play the match as Chile goes through an unprecedented crisis for nearly a month.
🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱 pic.twitter.com/C9rduABJ9f
Gary Medel (@MedelPitbull) November 13, 2019"There is a difficult situation and I think we should not play out of respect for what is happening in the country," said Charles Aranguiz, midfielder of German club Bayern Leverkusen.
The coach of the Chilean team, Colombian Reinaldo Rueda, immediately released the players to return to their clubs.
"I am with the people"
"The Football Federation of Chile has communicated the information to his Peruvian counterpart," added the statement from the ANFP.
Several players from the Chilean team have expressed their support for the demands for social reforms brought by the protesters since October 18, in the worst social crisis experienced by the country since the return of democracy in 1990.
"I'm with the people, he got up and he asks for justice, so you have to support him as much as you can," said FC Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal when he arrived in Santiago.
The Chilean social crisis also forced the Lima Copa Libertardores 2019 final to be held in Santiago on November 23 between the defending Argentine club River Plate and the Brazilian club Flamengo.
Last week, the Chilean federation also canceled another friendly against Bolivia scheduled for November 15.
With AFP