DRC Offers Behind-Closed-Doors World Cup Warm-Up Against Ebola Fears

The Ebola Concerns

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are willing to play their pre-World Cup friendly with Chile behind closed doors, their head coach, Sebastien Desabre, says.

The 49-year-old Frenchman made the offer after the mayor of the Spanish town due to host the match cancelled it on Tuesday over health concerns regarding the Ebola outbreak in the African country.

Behind-Closed-Doors Option

“I have signed the decree banning the holding of the June 9 match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile,” said Juan Franco, mayor of La Linea de la Concepcion, which is close to the border with Gibraltar in southern Spain.

Franco said it was a “precautionary measure” and he was following recommendations by the Andalusia regional government’s health service.

Desabre said he had not given up hope of the match in Spain going ahead.

“There are other stadiums. There’s the option of playing behind closed doors. There are several possibilities. I can’t really comment on that,” he said.

Precautionary Measures

The DRC, who have qualified for their first World Cup since they featured in the 1974 edition when they did so as Zaire, cancelled a planned pre-World Cup training camp at home after the country was hit by an Ebola outbreak last month and have been based in Belgium instead.

Desabre said all the required precautionary measures have been taken.

“Of course, we are following the restrictions related to FIFA regarding medical organisation. The doctors are in contact with FIFA,” he said.

World Cup Schedule

The DRC plan to be based in Houston, Texas, where they will play their first Group K match on June 17 against Portugal.

During the tournament, they will also head to Guadalajara, Mexico, to play Colombia on June 24 before returning to the US to play Uzbekistan in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 28.