The World Cup successes of Chile's national soccer team are making the air quality worse in Santiago, the country's capital city.

That's the pronouncement of government officials in the South American nation, who are urging soccer fans to forgo the much-beloved tradition of holding outdoor barbeques on game days, explains a report by Bloomberg.

After the country's June 13 game against Australia, the smoke generated by thousands of barbecues throughout the historically smog-laden city nearly prompted an environmental emergency that would have led to transportation restrictions.

The Santiago metropolitan area spans across what is essentially a shallow bowl between the snow-capped Andes Mountains to the east and a coastal range on the west that, particularly during colder winter months, traps air pollution, which leads to greater health problems.

"When we have low winds and we're at critical levels what we are saying is that people should avoid burning charcoal because that makes the air quality worse," Claudio Orrego, the government official responsible for the Santiago region, said in the Bloomberg story. "I've been the butt of a lot of jokes for this and I take it with humor, but I also urge people to take it seriously."

Orrego asserted the June 13 cookouts were responsible for an environmental alert the next day.

So far, environmental officials have called four daily environmental alerts.

As a result, Orrego declared a "pre-emergency" today, banning wood-burning stoves and restricting the use of cars.

More than 1,000 companies in the Santiago area were also directed to remain closed for the day.

"It all adds up ... one barbecue isn't a problem. But when you have a pre-emergency and there are 20,000, 30,000 or 40,000 barbecues with charcoal or wood it is undoubtedly a contributor.," Orrego said.

Chile defeated Spain 2-0 in Rio de Janeiro June 18, meaning its fans have a lot more celebrating -- and feasting -- to do in the near future.