Contents
Brazil vs Argentina fan violence Truth: Reason Behind Violence ? Messi
The Brazil vs Argentina fan violence at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro was an unexpected, chaotic scene before a ball had even been kicked. Police used batons to break up the fighting between rival supporters, with players pleading for calm as they watched the violence unfold. It was the latest in a series of violent football-related incidents to plague Brazilian football, after a Copa Libertadores final earlier this month. We take a look at what happened and the ramifications.
What happened on Tuesday night?
Brazil and Argentina fans, intermingled in the Maracana, clashed during the national anthems before kick-off. In response, police rushed in with batons, leading to some fans ripping up seats and throwing them at the officers. Some supporters came down to the pitch to escape the police, while Lionel Messi and other Argentina players tried to defuse the situation by pleading for calm. The match was delayed by nearly half an hour, but Argentina eventually won 1-0.
What did the players and coaches say?
Messi wrote on his Instagram that the game had been marred “by the repression of Argentina fans once again in Brazil”, with the Inter Miami forward and other players condemning the police’s tactics. Brazil’s interim coach Fernando Diniz condemned the scenes of violence, but said it was not unique to his country.
What about the fans?
Eugenio, an Argentina fan, said he woke up in the stadium’s medical centre bloodied and in handcuffs, claiming he hadn’t fought back or hit anyone. He said police took pictures of X-rays of Argentine fans as if they were war trophies.
So, what caused the trouble? Brazil and Argentina’s rivalry is one of the fiercest in international football, so this game was always a powderkeg. Questions have been raised as to why fans were allowed to buy tickets in the same areas of the Maracana, rather than being segregated.
The Brazil Football Federation said non-segregation of fans was the norm for games organised by FIFA and CONMEBOL, while Colonel Vagner Ferreira defended the police’s tactics.
What happens now?
FIFA has said it will wait for the report from officials before deciding its next course of action, but punishments for the CBF cannot be ruled out.
Follow Us X