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Pre-World Cup friendly cancelled by mayor over Ebola outbreak concerns
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- Pre-World Cup friendly cancelled by mayor over Ebola outbreak concerns
Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images
DR Congo's plans for their first World Cup appearance in nearly half a century have suffered another setback after a friendly against Chile was cancelled over Ebola concerns.
The decision adds to a growing list of challenges facing the squad, who are already managing complex travel and health protocols before their return to the global stage.
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Local authorities decided the potential health risk outweighed the sporting benefits for the region, leading to the match being called off.
Photo By Francisco J. Olmo/Europa Press via Getty Images
Juan Franco blocks DR Congo vs Chile friendly in La Linea before World Cup
In a BBC Sport report , La Linea de la Concepcion mayor Juan Franco explained why the 9 June friendly could not go ahead as planned.
"A report by the head of the mayoralty's health service of La Linea advised categorically against hosting the match given the health risks which might arise," Franco said.
The decision followed advice from both local and regional health officials, who raised concerns about the possible impact of staging the fixture.
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The match had been planned as part of final World Cup preparations for DR Congo and Chile, but the mayor signed a decree preventing it from being hosted in the Spanish coastal city.
DR Congo had already cancelled a planned training camp in Kinshasa because of the outbreak, choosing instead to remain based in Belgium.
DR Congo World Cup plans already affected by Ebola outbreak and travel rules
DR Congo are currently based in Belgium, where they are still scheduled to play Denmark in Liege before heading toward the World Cup.
While the players themselves have not recently been in DR Congo, some members of the support staff and travelling fans have made the journey from the country.
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Health officials have identified the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a rarer strain for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.
Complicating matters further, the United States has introduced entry restrictions for non-Americans who have been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days.
That matters because DR Congo plan to base themselves in Houston, where they are scheduled to open Group K against Portugal on 17 June, before facing Colombia in Guadalajara and Uzbekistan in Atlanta.
The Chile friendly may only be one cancelled warm-up, but it shows how quickly public-health concerns can disrupt World Cup planning before the tournament even begins.
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