Major sports networks in the U.S. will simulcast five Liga MX games over Tuesday and Wednesday "to support those affected by natural disasters in recent weeks," according to Tom Marshall of ESPN.com. ESPN will join forces with Azteca America, Fox and Univision Deportes to broadcast simultaneously in Spanish and English using commentators from the different networks. The games will be shown on ESPN Deportes in Spanish and on ESPNEWS in English. The "United for Each Other" campaign -- Unidos por los Nuestros -- will encourage donations to the American Red Cross to go toward relief efforts in Mexico, Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean (ESPN.com, 9/26). Marshall also reported the Mexican footballing community "has played its part in the relief effort." One Liga MX manager, as well as a number of players, joined a volunteer brigade, stadiums became community centers for the collection of vital supplies for affected areas and "one journalist even held an auction of his jersey collection." Elsewhere, Tigres and Monterrey held open training sessions to collect donations; players from Guadalajara clubs Chivas and Atlas -- from both the men's and women's teams -- congregated in a local shopping mall to show support and Querétaro "offered its stadium to Pumas for free for Sunday's game" (ESPN.com, 9/26).
A HELPING HAND: CONCACAF announced logistical and humanitarian commitments to assist in the relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in the wake of the recent natural disasters that have affected member associations in the Caribbean and North America. The response consists of support for ongoing relief efforts, as well as assistance with other resources needed to rebuild the football infrastructure in the nations that have experienced recent natural disasters, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and the earthquakes in Mexico. Sixteen of CONCACAF’s 41 member associations have been impacted. To provide longer-term rebuilding assistance, CONCACAF has established a disaster evaluation taskforce which will assess the individual situation of each member association (CONCACAF).
