DR Congo halts football over fears of political violence [Sports on TMC]

The government in DR Congo has told the country’s football association to suspend league competition from Thursday until further notice.

Exiled TP Mazembe owner Moise Katumbi has spoken against the government’s order, suggesting it is in bad taste.

“Football is the only thing that keeps people entertained and makes them forget about Kabila’s dictatorship and the poverty in Congo,” Katumbi told BBC Sport.

“You cannot indefinitely suspend the league when our national team is participating in the Africa Cup of Nations next month. How are the local players going to prepare?”

In Japan, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo fired Real Madrid into the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Club America in Yokohama.

Benzema’s ninth goal of the season set the European champions on their way before Ronaldo sealed the win in good time.