A dispute over television broadcasting rights saw a match in the Brazilian Campeonato Paranaense on Sunday called off at the last moment.
The game between Atletico Paranaense and Coritiba was due to be broadcast via Facebook and YouTube after dissatisfaction with the amount that broadcaster PRC was willing to pay the clubs for the TV rights.
But referee Paulo Roberto Alves Jr was told to postpone the game just before kickoff after the competition's ruling body Federacao Paranaense de Futebol had declared that media personnel didn't have the correct accreditation.
Atletico Paranaense president Luiz Sallim Emed described the decision as "a global shame" while declaring that the clubs would "not be held hostage" by the broadcasters.
Nota oficial sobre o clássico Atletiba 👉 https://t.co/NnANGDvhYK pic.twitter.com/sqvtSN7Gbx
- Atlético Paranaense (@atleticopr) February 19, 2017
"It is an arbitrary attitude of the president of the federation, preventing the start of the game," he said. "We, the clubs, will not allow the transmission to be withdrawn.
"It's a narrow, obtuse idea of the president of the federation. We are still going to break this retrograde barrier, and not be held hostage by some broadcasters."
Sallim Emed added that the clubs would not accept the ruling for future matches.
Atletico Paranaense are 10th in the 12-team Campeonato Paranaense standings, while Coritiba are seventh, five points off the pace.
