World Cup Schedule in Colombia: Country Gives Workers Time Off to Watch Match Against Brazil
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos figures since he really won't be working on Friday afternoon, Colombia's government employees shouldn't have to work either.
BBC reported that Santos has given Colombia's government workers Friday afternoon off so they will be able to watch their country play Brazil in the World Cup. The president himself will be flying to Brazil to watch the match.
Santos made a decree that Friday afternoon would be a Colombian civic day and that workers could leave the office at 1 p.m. for the 3 p.m. local time kickoff of the match in Fortaleza.
Colombia's Vice President Angelino Garzon has urged municipal government offices to allow their workers to leave early, according to BBC. The mayor of Colombia's third-largest city, Cali, said he would follow suit.
Santos said that special services, like police and health workers, would still function during the match, according to Colombia Reports. The presence of these workers could be important, as police were called nearly 5,000 times after Colombia's opening match victory over Greece.
Nine people also were killed that night in capital city Bogota and many people reported domestic disturbances, prompting an alcohol ban in many cities, BBC reported.
Colombia has never reached the World Cup quarterfinals, but has had an impressive showing in this year's tournament. The Colombians are one of four teams -- along with Argentina, Belgium and the Netherlands -- that have not lost a game in the World Cup.
The team so far has been led by young star James Rodriguez, who leads the entire tournament in goals scored with five. If Colombia keeps winning, and Rodriguez keeps scoring goals, he could become the first Colombian to win the World Cup Golden Boot, given to the tournament's top goal scorer.
If Colombia beats Brazil, they will go on to play the winner of a match between France and Germany in the semifinal on Tuesday.
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