The local Aurinegros team clashed with the Peruvian Sporting Cristal team to define their pass to the semifinal phase of the competition at the Campeon del Siglo stadium with a permitted capacity of 5,000 fans of the club, sports leaders and special guests.

Montevideo’s healthcare authorities found that in the official stands of the stadium the minimum social distancing required was not complied with, and on the contrary, videos showed scenes of euphoric hugs.

Peñarol’s president, Ignacio Ruglio, acknowledged so and, according to close journalistic sources, the fine imposed will amount to at least the equivalent of some 30,000 dollars.

The hosts won 1-0 and qualified for the semifinals. They will play with Atletico Paranaense of Brazil next.

For the Uruguayan Football Association, the recent match also served as a rehearsal in view of hosting here in November the final challenges of the Libertadores and Suraamericana Cups, for which the country is expecting a large number of tourists.

On Saturday, the National Emergency System reported 157 new Covid-19 cases, two deaths and 1,400 active cases, while 69 percent of the population received two doses of immunizing vaccines.

However, scientific experts remain alert regarding the entry and imminent community spread of the aggressive Delta variant of the SARS CoV-2 virus that causes the disease.

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