Coronavirus: Gremio players wear face-mask to protest on pitch

Players of Brazilian club Gremio, have staged a protest against league management's decision to continue with matches as coronavirus spreads in South America.

The protest was stagged before the kickoff of Sunday's match against Sao Luiz, which they won 3-2 though they played with the mask off.

Before the game started, Gremio's coach, Renato Portaluppi, and his players showed a unified position as they walked out of the tunnel and lined up wearing the masks.

"This protest by the players makes implicit our support for the championship to be halted - life must take precedence," said Paulo Luz, Gremio's director of football.

Although the game was played behind closed doors, as ordered by the league management, Gremio feels it is beyond banning fans from stadiums.

According to the BBC, South American players and clubs have started complaining at decisions by footballing authorities to order games to be played, but behind closed doors.

Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus appealed for football to be halted, saying players needed to be protected because "they are not super-human".

In Argentina, River Plate refused to play their Superliga Cup tie against Atletico Tucuman on Saturday. The Buenos Aires club closed their stadium, leaving match officials and an advance team from Atletico outside the ground.