Brazilian Football Confederation has suspended all national competitions after Brazilian club Gremio honored their Sundays fixture against San Luiz with masks on, in a feat to pressure the confederation to halt the matches amid CoronaVirus spread in South America.
The players, led by Boss Renato Portaluppi, walked out of the tunnel and lined up before the game against Sao Luiz wearing the masks.
The protest came in as players and clubs across South America started to complain at decisions by footballing authorities to order games to be played, but behind closed doors.
“This protest by the players makes implicit of our support for the championship to be halted – life must take precedence,” said Paulo Luz, Gremio’s director of football.
No spectators were allowed into the Gremio Arena for the Gaucho state championship match, which Gremio won 3-2, with the masks not worn during the game.
In Argentina, River Plate refused to play their Superliga Cup tie against Atletico Tucuman on Saturday. The Buenos Aires club closed their stadium, leaving match officials and a delegation from Atletico outside the ground.
Material Information from BBC Sport