Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 8y

Clasico Tapatio between Atlas, Chivas postponed due to Hurricane Patricia

GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Saturday's Clasico Tapatio between Atlas and Chivas at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara has been postponed until Nov. 11 due to the potential effects of Hurricane Patricia.

"It was a very smart decision by everyone," said Chivas sporting manager Mariano Varela, in a statement released by the club. "We can't take a risk in this type of event with the weather situation that is going on ... There was an option to play on Sunday, but knowing the weather isn't going to improve it'll be rescheduled for Nov. 11, which I think is right."

A state of emergency has been declared in the state of Jalisco, of which Guadalajara is the capital, and a Category 3 hurricane is expected to hit the city Friday night. Heavy rain is set to continue through Saturday until the originally-scheduled 8:30 p.m. kick-off local time, according to forecasters.

"The [Mexican soccer] federation and the clubs have to be very responsible," stated Atlas head coach Gustavo Matosas in a press conference on Friday morning. "The most important thing is to look after the integrity of the fans and the players."

Guadalajara mayor Enrique Alfaro admitted Friday that it will be "complicated" for the Liga MX match to go ahead and suggested that apart from the state of the pitch and areas outside the stadium, security elements designated to patrol the match would be needed elsewhere.

The clubs are in contact with each other and the local government about the ongoing situation and postponing the game until Sunday had been one potential option before the decision was made to move the match to next month.

The Clasico Tapatio pits Guadalajara's two most supported teams and is one of Mexico's most passionate rivalries. In this edition of the derby, both sides go into the game on 17 points after 13 games of the Apertura 2015 and remain in the playoff race.

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