File Photo- Carioca Championship - Botafogo v Bangu - Nilton Santos Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - March 15, 2020 Botafogo's Keisuke Honda with teammates wearing masks before the match is played behind closed doors as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
(Reuters) - Two of Brazil's top soccer clubs, Botafogo and Fluminense, said on Tuesday they would defy an order from their federation to resume competitive play this week as the country's daily coronavirus death toll hovers around 1,000.
The Rio de Janeiro state football federation proposed that the state championship, one of several tournaments that take place before the national leagues begin, restart on June 18 pending state government approval.
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