The whole Gremio team bizzarely wearing masks and lined up against Sao Luiz, as a protest to the Brazilian football authority who have yet to suspend the league despite the growing coronavirus.
The protest comes as players and clubs across South America bemoaned at decisions by footballing authorities to order games to be played behind closed doors.
“This protest by the players makes implicit our support for the championship to be halted, life must take precedence,” said Paulo Luz, Gremio’s director of football.
Gremio manager Renato Portaluppi said the footballing authority must act in the time of emergency.
“The whole world has stopped – shouldn’t Brazilian football stop as well?”
“That’s our message and I hope they listen. We hope that good sense will prevail.”
Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus appealed for football to be halted, saying players needed to be protected because “they are not super-human”.
While the Brazilian Football Confederation suspended all national competitions, they said it was up to local federations to decide whether to halt the state championships.
In Argentina, River Plate refused to play their Superliga Cup tie against Atletico Tucuman on Saturday.
The Buenos Aires club closed their stadium, leaving match officials and a delegation from Atletico outside the ground.