The Democratic Republic of Congo’s international friendly against Chile will now be played in Malaga on 9 June after organisers were forced to relocate the match from its original venue in Marbella.
The fixture serves as the Leopards’ final preparation match during the current international window and had initially been scheduled to take place in Marbella before local authorities intervened.
The Congolese delegation arrived in Malaga on 4 June, with the match now expected to be staged behind closed doors.
The venue change follows a decision by local officials in Spain, who blocked the event at its original location on health grounds. The move created uncertainty over whether the fixture would proceed as planned.
Juan Franco, mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, confirmed that a decree had been signed prohibiting the match from taking place at the municipal stadium.
“I have just signed the decree prohibiting the match scheduled for June 9 between the national teams of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chile,” Franco said in an audio statement released by his office.
Authorities explained that the decision was taken as a precautionary measure after recommendations from the regional health department. Officials expressed concerns that the fixture could attract a large crowd and potentially pose risks to public health.
Despite the concerns raised by local authorities, officials from the Congolese delegation have insisted that all necessary health and safety measures have been implemented.
According to representatives of the Congolese Football Federation, arrangements were put in place to monitor the health of the travelling party upon arrival in Europe, with no concerns reported among members of the delegation.
The federation has also sought to reassure stakeholders that there is no health risk involving players or officials who travelled from Kinshasa.
With the logistical issues now resolved, both DR Congo and Chile are expected to proceed with preparations for the encounter as they continue building towards their upcoming international commitments.
The match will provide an important opportunity for both teams to assess their squads and tactical plans ahead of future competitive fixtures.
