Flamengo rivals Fluminense and Botafogo refusing to play Carioca | OneFootball

While Flamengo will take on Bangu in matchday four of the Taça Rio stage of the Campeonato Carioca on Thursday, a pair of Flamengo rival clubs are refusing to return due to coronavirus fears.

Fluminense and Botafogo are amongst a large number of Brazilian clubs who do not want to return as the pandemic is currently spiking, especially in Rio de Janeiro.

Fluminense players released a statement on Thursday: “We are still in a scenario with a lot of daily fatalities in the city and in other regions of the countries as well.

“So, evidently, we don’t feel comfortable putting even more lives at risk. From the start of this situation, we fought for football to return at the right moment.”

Botafogo are refusing to play as well and their star signing, Keisuke Honda, is obviously against returning, questioning FERJ’s decision on social media.

“June 16: Infection: 34918. Deaths: 1282. Am I crazy that I want to know a logical reason why we restart the league?”

Brazil’s infection rates and death toll is second in the world, only to the United States.

Late Thursday afternoon, the Rio Sports Court of Justice denied requests from both clubs to postpone their Carioca matches.