Ecuador's Soccer Teams Mobilize to Help Quake Victims

Ecuadorean soccer teams are helping with relief efforts by converting stadiums into collection centers and donating proceeds to victims of Saturday’s earthquake.

RELATED: 
FC Barcelona Sends Message of Hope to Ecuador

Independiente del Valle announced Wednesday it would donate all proceeds from its upcoming game to relief efforts. It also opened its facilities to collect non-perishable goods, medicine and clothing to send to the affected areas.

The Barcelona Sporting Club, based in Guayaquil — where a bridge and dozens of buildings were destroyed — also asked to lift a sanction on their stadium so they could donate half of ticket sales to recovery. They are already collecting donations in their stadium.

Deportivo Quito, Deportivo Cuenca and Club Aucas also converted their stadiums into collection centers, and Club America said it will send donations.

The Ecuadorean soccer federation, FEF, is also asking for water, medicine and food, and the South American soccer confederation, Conmebol, is repeating the call and illuminated its headquarters the colors of the Ecuadorean flag.

Llenando entre todos el 2do. de 3 camiones que irán al punto de acopio en la #SecretaríaNacionalDeGestiónDeRiesgos. pic.twitter.com/JkH6ZlDj6r

— SOCIOS BARCELONA (@SociosBSC) April 19, 2016

Several soccer players have been directly affected the the quake, some of them living in cities that were partly destroyed.

Soccer player Juan Marcarie of Fuerza Amarilla quit over a scare with his family during the earthquake, and the father of Clan Juvenil, a player for Sangolqui, died in the tremor. The Folke Anderson stadium in Esmeraldas was severely damaged. Lighting and and several parts of the seating are out of order.