The mayor of a Spanish town has cancelled a high-profile international football friendly between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile, citing fears over the spread of the Ebola virus. The decision, announced late Tuesday, has sparked a diplomatic row and raised questions about public health priorities in a country still grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The match, scheduled for next month at the Martinez Valero Stadium in Elche, was intended to be a showcase for both teams ahead of their respective World Cup qualifiers. But local officials pulled the plug after concerns emerged that players from DR Congo might be carrying the deadly virus. The country has been battling an Ebola outbreak since 2018, and despite recent progress, the World Health Organisation has not declared the epidemic over.
“The health of our citizens must come first,” said the mayor, Carlos González, in a terse statement. “We cannot risk exposing thousands of spectators to a disease with a 50% fatality rate. The decision was difficult, but necessary.”
The DR Congo Football Federation swiftly condemned the move, accusing the Spanish authorities of “scaremongering and discrimination”. A spokesperson said all players had been medically cleared and that the country had “robust screening protocols” in place. The Chilean Football Association expressed disappointment but said it would work with DR Congo to find an alternative venue.
The cancellation has also angered football fans in Elche, many of whom had already bought tickets. Local businesses that were hoping for a boost from visiting supporters now face losses.
Health experts are divided. Some argue that the risk of transmission is minimal given that Ebola does not spread through casual contact, while others contend that the decision is a prudent precaution in a world still reeling from COVID-19. Dr. Maria Neira, a public health specialist, said: “We must not let fear dictate policy, but we also cannot be complacent. The key is evidence-based risk assessment, which appears to have been bypassed here.”
The Spanish Ministry of Health has offered no comment, leaving the mayor’s office to defend its actions. Meanwhile, the DR Congo team remains holed up in a hotel in Kinshasa, uncertain if they will ever get on the plane.
For the ordinary worker in the North, this story might seem remote, far removed from the worries of wage stagnation and heating bills. But it cuts to the heart of a wider anxiety: the hard-won trust in public health systems, and the ease with which panic can unravel the ties that bind a global community. The match may be cancelled, but the debate over how to balance safety with solidarity is only just beginning.
