Kids soccer tournaments involving 500 teams convening in Arizona despite COVID spike

No red cards but plenty of red flags.

Despite a ferocious spike in coronavirus cases in Phoenix, the Arizona capital is trudging on to host a slew of soccer tournaments this weekend featuring 500 teams, reported Phoenix TV station KNXV.

Arizona reported 4,500 new COVID cases on Tuesday as the number of available intensive care unit beds dwindles rapidly, according to the station.

The Desert Super Cup — which will feature 40 in-state teams and 460 from out of state — kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday, noted Phoenix station KSAZ.

Despite the alarming risk, some local politicians were giddy that the competition won’t be canceled.

“Absolutely fantastic news,” tweeted Phoenix City Council member Sal DiCiccio. “The 800 kid soccer tournament will still be held in Phoenix this coming weekend. They are coming here because they had been banned everywhere else and we have amazing facilities. We welcome you and your families to our great city!”

Matches will also be played in the nearby cities of Scottsdale and Mesa.

Although the state has banned public events involving more than 50 people, local officials can bypass the restriction if local officials give the OK, noted CNN.

The Phoenix City Council has the power to cancel the event but has held off despite the protestations of Mayor Kate Gallego.

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“I am gravely concerned about COVID-19 in our community,” said Gallego. “With infections now at the second-highest daily number ever, it is clear the status quo is not working. We all need to be aware that the public-health situation has changed dramatically in the last few weeks.”

Arizona has reported more than 310,000 cases of coronavirus within the state, with more than half of them in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, noted health tracker Arizona Department of Health Services.

As of Wednesday, 6,524 Arizonans had lost their lives to COVID-19.