Tournament Suspended, Bermuda Team Safe

The CONCACAF Women’s Under 17 Championships have been “suspended” due to civil unrest in Nicaragua, and the BFA has confirmed that Bermuda’s team “are all well and in no danger” and are “preparing to leave the country at the earliest opportunity.”

The BFA said, “The Bermuda Football Association has been advised that the CONCACAF Women’s Under 17 Championships in Nicaragua have been suspended.

“This development follows days of civil unrest and anti-government protests in Managua, Nicaragua. CONCACAF advised that it is in the best interest of the tournament that it be suspended and resume at a later date and possibly an alternate country.

“BFA President and General secretary have been in contact with the Bermuda team and have been assured that they are all well and in no danger. They are now busy preparing to leave the country at the earliest opportunity.”

“According to human rights groups, 25 people have died since 18 April in unrest over social security reforms planned by the government of president Daniel Ortega,” the Guardian report, while the BBC report a death toll of 10 people.

“On Saturday, journalist Angel Gahona was reporting live via Facebook on protests in the southeastern city of Bluefields when he was killed by a gunshot. At least 25 other people have been killed since Wednesday according to the independent Nicaraguan Human Rights Center, though the government had acknowledged only nine dead,” ABC report.