The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has announced the cancellation of the remainder of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, which included Bermuda, because of violence in the Managua, Nicaragua. The Bermuda team were said to be safe and in no danger.
CONCACAF said in a statement from Miami that to guarantee the safety of the delegations, participants and fans, the cancellation would apply to all matches and events and take immediate effect. The tournament opened last Thursday.
“The Confederation took the decision to cancel the remainder of the tournament following vigilant monitoring of the disturbances in Managua they developed, and in close coordination with the Nicaraguan Football Federation and local authorities,” a spokesman said.
Future plans to be determined
“CONCACAF will determine future steps regarding this tournament and the related qualifying process for CONCACAF teams for the FIFA Women’s World Under-17 Cup Uruguay 2018. The timing of those decisions will be communicated as they are determined.”
Preparing to be evacuated
The Bermuda team, which lost 3-0 to Canada on Friday in a Group B game, were preparing to be evacuated from the country after riots broke out in Managua, the Royal Gazette newspaper in Bermuda said.
A spokesman for the Bermuda Football Association said: “The BFA has been advised that the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championships in Nicaragua have been suspended. This development follows days of civil unrest and anti-government protests in Managua, Nicaragua. CONCACAF advised it is in the best interest of the tournament that it be suspended and resume at a later date and possibly an alternate country.
“The BFA president and general secretary have been in contact with the Bermuda team and have been assured that they are all well and in no danger. “They are now busy preparing to leave the country at the earliest opportunity.”
The United States and Costa Rica were the other teams in Group B. The US beat Costa Rica 4-0 on Friday.
Bermuda were due to take on the US on Sunday before closing out the group stage against Costa Rica on Tuesday.
Group A was made up of hosts Nicaragua, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Haiti.
The top two teams from the two groups will advance to the semi-finals, after which the CONCACAF champions and second and third-placed teams will qualify for the Under-17 World Cup, which is scheduled for Uruguay in November and December.
Over ten people killed during civil protests
More than 10 people have died and 100 injured in several days of protests against changes to the Nicaraguan pension scheme, the Gazette said.
The move, approved by the Nicaraguan government on Wednesday, increased pension contributions for workers and employers while reducing benefits.
President Daniel Ortega has offered talks on the dispute but protesters have refused to take part until police violence against them halts.
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