News
SIFUP provides aid to footballers affected by forest fires in Chile
- The regions of Biobio and Nuble in Chile have been suffering from severe forest fires since mid-January
- Two footballers in the area have lost their homes and are receiving financial and personal support from the Chilean player union
- "As soon as the magnitude of the fires became known, we immediately contacted our representatives in the affected regions," says SIFUP President Luis Marin
Since mid-January, central-southern Chile has been affected by serious forest fires that have caused more than 20 deaths and extensive material damage in both urban and rural areas of the Biobio and Nuble regions. In response to the emergency, Chilean player union SIFUP acted quickly to support affected footballers.
Deportes Concepcion, Huachipato and Universidad de Concepcion are the three professional clubs based in the area. After the seriousness of the situation became clear – and Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a "state of catastrophe" in both regions – the SIFUP board contacted team captains and player delegates to assess the impact on its members.
"What we are experiencing as a country is a profound tragedy. The fires not only devastate homes and land, but also directly affect families’ lives, emotional stability and future," Marin told FIFPRO.org.
"In the case of our members, we are talking about workers who often do not have extensive support networks and who see their peace of mind, and that of their loved ones, at risk. As a union, we understand that our role is not only to defend labour rights, but also to be present when a colleague is going through a difficult time. That is why we decided to act immediately. We could not wait for formalities and lengthy assessments when there was an urgent need.
"As soon as the scale of the fires became known, we contacted our representatives in the affected regions. This is possible thanks to a very active network of delegates and captains at the clubs, which allows us to receive direct and reliable information almost in real time."
The assessment showed that Javier Saldias, a Union La Calera player originally from Lirquen in the heart of the disaster zone, and Franco Caceres of Deportes Concepcion had lost their homes to the fires. SIFUP decided to immediately transfer financial assistance to help them cope with the tragedy.
"The union has internal emergency protocols and an administrative structure that allow us to activate resources quickly, make swift decisions and transfer aid without unnecessary bureaucracy," Marin said.
"There is nothing left of my house"
Caceres, 18, who is on loan at Deportes Concepcion from Universidad de Chile, spoke to Chilean media in recent days about how he was affected.
"My house was a two-storey home. The lower part was made of cement and the upper part was made of wood. There was nothing left – not even a stick standing upright. Everything was consumed by the fire. But here we are, still standing.
"Our house was finished nine months ago. It was a small home, and we are not a family with many resources. We moved in last April, and it lasted less than a year."
Saldias also described the situation he and his family are facing.
"I am from the Rios de Chile sector, which is in all the news as ground zero for all of this. I’m from Lirquen, from the port. I live in the hills and everything is down to zero. Everything is gone. My mother was lucky to survive because she stayed until the very end. The neighbours lost everything."
The defender travelled to his hometown to provide assistance and deliver essential supplies to the area. He also made his bank account available to raise funds for victims. His club, along with others in the Biobio and Nuble regions, activated their own solidarity initiatives.
Short- and medium-term support plans
The full consequences of the disaster are not yet known, so SIFUP is currently in what Marin describes as "a permanent evaluation phase".
"Needs may change over time. In the short term, our focus is to ensure that affected footballers and their families receive immediate support for basic and urgent needs.
"In the medium term, we will continue to support each case on a personalised basis, assessing whether additional assistance is required – whether economic, social or psychological – recognising that situations like this also have a significant emotional impact.
"As always, SIFUP will be available to coordinate assistance, work with other institutions if necessary and mobilise the solidarity of the union. Our commitment is not to let go of any footballer’s hand when facing a situation as tough as this."