Chile Call-Off
Friendlies After Earthquake
Chile have called off friendlies against
Costa Rica and North Korea next week in the
wake of the massive earthquake which hit the
country in the early hours of Saturday.
Chilean soccer federation president Harold
Mayne-Nicholls said on the organization's
official website that it would be difficult
to justify letting the game to go ahead
after the disaster.
"Football cannot remain indifferent to the
catastrophe which has hit our country and
certainly not to the pain and tragedy of
thousands of Chileans," Mayne-Nicholls said.
The players said in a statement: "At this
moment, it is more important to look after
the country's urgent necessities. There will
be time for football."
Chile had planned to host both Costa Rica
and North Korea on the same evening at the
National Stadium, with coach Marcelo Biesla
wanting to see as many players in action as
possible as he prepares to lead the nation
to its first finals World Cup finals since
1998.
One of the world's most powerful earthquakes
in a century hammered Chile early on
Saturday, killing more than 300 people as it
toppled buildings.
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