Ecuador, which suffered a violent attack from drug trafficking groups in January, has postponed the start of the professional soccer tournament to March 1 due to the security crisis.LigaPro, the organizer of the competition, reported on Friday.
The Presidential Council of the LigaPro (Professional Football League of Ecuador) made the decision in an extraordinary meeting “Relocation of the start of the tournament (…) to March 1st”, The company pointed this out through its account on the social network X.
“This is due to current government decrees,” he added.
He championshipwhich is played by 16 teams led by the Quito League monarchwas scheduled to begin on February 16th.
The attack by drug gangs in January left around twenty people dead and more than 200 police and prison guards temporarily taken hostage. inside and outside prisons, attacks with explosives and burning vehicles.
In view of the security crisis, the government imposed a state of emergency and a night-time curfew until March. In ten of the country’s 24 provinces, such as in the Andean region of Pichincha (capital Quito) and on the coast of Guayas (Guayaquil), it is currently five hours.
He also declared the nation in internal armed conflict and ordered the military to neutralize drug organizations branded as “terrorists” and “belligerents.”
Out of fear, local authorities have canceled public eventswhile soldiers patrol the streets and take control of prisons that have been converted into drug trafficking operation centers.
“We agree with the decisions of law enforcement,” LigaPro president Miguel Angel Loor told the press “I hope that we can start normally on March 1st, with the public, without any problems.”
The government ministry in turn pointed out that public events could be permitted in places where there was no risk of violence.after its assessment, and that for activities involving more than 400 people, those responsible must submit a safety and risk plan to be analyzed.
“The clubs want to play with the audience,” said Loor, for what LigaPro preferred postpone the start of the competition. AFP