The Concacaf Women’s Under 17 Championships in Nicaragua was yesterday cancelled after three days of the competition to determine the qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup in Uruguay later this year.

The decision came following civil unrest in the country which led to safety concerns.

Anti-government protests entered their fifth day on Sunday and the Red Cross reported that at least seven people have died and hundreds have been injured in demonstrations in the capital of Managua.

Concacaf took the decision to cancel the remainder of the tournament following vigilant monitoring of the situation as it has developed, and in close coordination with the Nicaraguan Football Federation and local authorities.

Concacaf will determine future steps regarding this tournament and the related qualifying process for Concacaf teams for the FIFA Women’s World Under-17 Cup Uruguay 2018. The timing of those decisions will be communicated as they are determined.