RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil will play Bolivia in a charity friendly in memory of the 14-year-oldSan Joséfan who was killed by an exploding flare during a Copa Libertadores tie against Corinthians.
Jose Maria Marin, president of the Brazilian football confederation, has volunteered the five-times world champions’ senior national team for a game in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
Fans of Corinthians of Sao Paulo, the world and South American club champions, were arrested by Bolivian police after the death of Kevin Douglas Beltran Espada. He was struck in the face and died in an ambulance on the way to hospital.
A 17-year-old Corinthians fan has reportedly admitted to setting off the flare.
Bolivian federation president Carlos Chávez, confirming the Brazilian offer, said: “I received some good news and have confirmed the friendly. The commitment from the CBF is for the squad to play a game in the country. This is a good indicator for Bolivian football.”
The game is likely to be played in September or November. Slotting in a friendly is comparatively simple for Brazil since the 2014 World Cup hosts are not involving in competitive qualifying matches.
World and European champions Spainhave also offered to play the Bolivians.
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