Footballers in Venezuela defy government by staging minute’s silence after start of match in honour of those who have died in protests against hated president
FOOTBALLERS in Venezuela defied the authorities to stage a period of silence in honour of the victims of the anti-governmental protests which have engulfed the nation.
So far, 29 people have died in protest at president Nicolas Maduro’s regime.
The current leader replaced Hugo Chavez following the hugely popular ex-president’s death in 2013, and the country has since plunged into turmoil with the country now in a serious economic crisis.
Protesters have been involved in violent clashes with Maduro’s militia-supporters, who have accused them of staging a coup.
A protester throws a flaiming bottle during protests in VenezuelaEPA
Footballers in Venezuela show unity with those who have died in atrocitiesArray
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There have been 29 deaths as protesters clash with government militiaAlamy
And for that reason, footballers in the country have not been allowed to show solidarity with the victims.
However, players from various teams across the country have staged their own period of silence in honour of those who have died in the troubles.
A video has been posted on social media which shows one such display between Deportivo Lara and Deportivo Anzoategui, but it was the same throughout the nation.
Police watch on in the distance in a smoky Caracas in VenezuelaAlamyThe violence has engulfed Venezuela, with people protesting against Nicolas MaduroEPA
The referee blew the whistle to start the match and the players kicked off.
However, immediately after, they stopped and all fell silent to remember those who have passed away in the violence.
You can see the official moving around as those around him stand still and the players have their heads bowed in memory.
Footballers across Venezuela hold periods of silence in honour of victimsArrayReferee gets game underway, and then players hold period of silenceArray
Se realizó un minuto de silencio a solicitud de los jugadores en memoria de los fallecidos durante las protestas ocurridas en el país.
After a little less than the traditional minute, play gets underway.
Anzoategui later confirmed their intentions on Twitter, with a post which read: “There was a minute’s silence from the players in unity with those have died during the protests which have taken place in the country.”
The gesture was reportedly replicated across the country.
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