Earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia spark solidarity among footballers: "It was impossible not to get involved"

• The earthquakes that struck Venezuela and Colombia within six weeks of each other caused social and economic devastation in both countries
• Leading footballers such as Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez and Deyna Castellanos were among those who quickly mobilised to support victims
• The player unions of Venezuela and Colombia also organised relief efforts

Within the space of six weeks, Venezuela and Colombia were struck by separate earthquakes that left nearly 7,000 people dead, hundreds more missing or injured, and thousands of homes damaged or destroyed.

The scale of the devastation prompted an immediate response from the football community. Players and their unions mobilised to lead several initiatives supporting those affected.

“Seeing the human toll caused by the earthquake made it impossible not to get involved,” Venezuelan international Deyna Castellanos, a forward for Portland Thorns in the NWSL, told FIFPRO.org.

Castellanos was in the United States when the earthquake struck, and several hours passed before she was able to contact her mother.

“Those first few hours were very distressing,” she recalled. “In the days that followed, my family had to assess the structural damage to our home. Fortunately, everything was repairable. Once I knew they were safe, I focused on finding out how I could help from so far away.

“Through Queen Deyna Legacy, we partnered with Sun.risas, an organisation with extensive experience of helping communities in Venezuela. Being so far away, it was important to work with trusted people on the ground, listen to what families really needed and ensure that aid reached the right places.”

Castellanos became one of the most prominent figures in the football community’s relief efforts across both countries, but she was far from alone.

Robert Garces and Edson Tortolero Jr took part in rescue efforts to find relatives of their former team-mate Lucas Trejo. Garces, a midfielder for Metropolitanos, travelled to the affected areas several times to provide hands-on assistance wherever it was needed.

He also used his platform to collect essential supplies, including food and medicine, for La Guaira, the epicentre of the earthquake in Venezuela. Donations came from footballers based in Venezuela, members of the public and team-mates playing professionally in other countries.

Venezuela internationals Telasco Segovia, Tomas Rincon and Jon Aramburu were among those who supported collection centres and people affected by the disaster. Telasco, for example, led an initiative by the Inter Miami Foundation in which a shirt signed by the entire team was raffled to raise funds for victims.

Other players donated to an initiative launched by Venezuelan player union AUFPV. As well as maintaining contact with affected footballers and providing support behind the scenes, the union established a collection centre for supplies, materials and food. It also opened its bank accounts to receive financial donations for those affected.

ACOLFUTPRO and Colombia’s football stars mobilise

Colombia’s leading footballers, many of whom are based around the world, responded with similar urgency when several regions of the country were severely affected by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake on 10 August.

Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, Jhon Arias, Teofilo Gutierrez, Dayro Moreno and Hugo Rodallega were among the players who made personal donations and used their foundations and platforms to help ensure that essential aid reached victims. Entire squads, including those of Millonarios, Independiente Santa Fe, DIM and Bogota FC, among others, also helped collect supplies.

“Through my foundation, I will be the first to raise significant funds for those affected,” said Rodriguez in a video posted on Instagram. “It is of the utmost importance that the aid has the greatest possible impact and that the reconstruction is effective.”

Another prominent figure in the relief effort was Walmer Pacheco, captain of Deportivo Pereira, the leading club in Pereira, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.

“It’s one thing to see it from afar and quite another to experience it, to feel it,” said the right-back in a video inviting the public to support his initiative by donating much-needed supplies. Accompanied by several team-mates, Pacheco also visited hospitals to deliver food and water to people in need.

“This makes us realise that, at any moment, in the blink of an eye, we can be left with nothing,” he reflected.

Colombian player union ACOLFUTPRO also used its platform to collect donations from footballers and members of the public. The initiative gathered food and hygiene products in Bogota for distribution to the country’s worst-affected areas.

Working alongside team captains, the union also successfully called on Dimayor to postpone the league matches scheduled in the days after the earthquake, allowing attention to remain focused on the humanitarian crisis facing the country.