Brazil sees the worst natural disaster to ever to hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil's football federation, national teams, and leading players such as Neymar and Vinicius Jr have expressed solidarity with people in Brazil who have been affected by the recent devastating floods - the country's worst in 80 years. 

At least 85 people have been killed, and damage has been widespread. A striking example is the stadium of Gremio, who play in the Brazilian top flight, sitting completely underwater. The disaster, which the government and experts have linked to climate change, swept away bridges and roads, making humanitarian relief more difficult.

The extent of the damage and disruption has led to some of Brazil's largest clubs urging the federation to suspend league football. Current and former superstar players such as Neymar, Vinicius Jr, and Ronaldinho have been using their huge social media followings to promote fundraising efforts for victims of the floods. Meanwhile, the legend that is Diego Costa, who plays for Gremio, has been busy rescuing more than 100 people from floods using his jet skis.

We have previously written about the link between extreme weather events and football - including flooding in the UK.

It's a powerful reminder of football's role in the climate crisis - sport will be severely disrupted by the extreme weather events that climate change is making more severe and more frequent. The effects of climate change are here with us now, and football cannot ignore them.

At the same time, football is integral to Brazil's culture and identity. The beautiful game is part of the fabric of our societies, and so has a responsibility to show leadership in the climate crisis - to urge those in power to take action, and to support communities when they are suffering from its impacts.