Japan and Chile's football associations announced on Thursday they were calling off Friday's friendly match in Sapporo following the earthquake on the northern island of Hokkaido. Chile will continue its Asian tour next week to face South Korea in Seoul.
"This decision was taken after the careful assessment of the damage caused by the earthquake, especially in important sectors such as electricity and transport, as well as to ensure the safety of all spectators," the Japanese association said in a statement.
Quake-affected residents walk during an electrical blackout at the shopping district in Sapporo after an earthquake hit the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido on September 6. /VCG Photo
Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido where as many as 30 people are feared buried under earth and rubble after the 6.6-magnitude quake sparked numerous mudslides. The quake left almost three million people without power after damage to a major thermal plant supplying the region, which was already affected by a typhoon earlier in the week.
"It won't be possible to solve the problem within 24 hours," said Chilean federation's vice president Andres Fazio.
He added that South American players were in an "excellent situation" at a Sapporo hotel, waiting for the city's airport to reopen so they could leave.