Published: 9 May, 2009, 12:49
Edited: 9 May, 2009, 12:49
Two Mexican football clubs decided to withdraw from the Libertadores Cup after their opponents refused to play in Mexico because of Swine Flu, AP news agency reports.
Earlier, the rivals of Chivas Guadalajara and San Luis – Sao Paulo of Brazil and Nacional of Uruguay –offered to stage the games in their home stadiums, but now they will automatically progress to the quarterfinals of the most prestigious club tournament in Latin America.
The decision comes a day after Mexican football authorities re-opened the stadiums in the country for spectators after a week-long quarantine in which games were held behind closed doors.
Mexico is the epicenter of the outbreak of H1N1 flu (called Swine Flu by the media). 48 people have died of the disease, while more than 3,000 people are reported to have fallen ill in 26 countries around the globe.