The Brazilian Soccer Confederation (CBF) mentioned Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Argentina was organized as regular even supposing the match was overshadowed by crowd violence that ultimately prompted a delay to kickoff.
The groups got here out on the sector as scheduled however a combat broke out between opposing followers throughout the nationwide anthem on Tuesday night time on the Maracana. The scenario escalated as soon as police arrived within the stands and have become concerned within the violence, which noticed some followers rip seats out of the Rio de Janeiro stadium and throw them at law enforcement officials.
Argentina gamers moved in the direction of the group in an try and name issues down, however goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at one level grabbed the arm of a police officer to cease him from hitting an Argentina supporter with a baton.
Lionel Messi then led the Argentina gamers into the locker room whereas Brazil gamers stayed on the pitch. The reigning world champions returned roughly 10 minutes later and after a dialogue and temporary warm-ups, the match started about half an hour delayed.
Messi spoke after the match about why his aspect left the pitch amidst the chaos.
“Clearly, at the start it was dangerous as a result of we noticed how they have been beating individuals,” the Argentina captain mentioned, per Reuters. “You consider the household, the people who find themselves there, who do not know what is going on on and we’re extra involved about that than taking part in a match. At that time the match was secondary.”
Eight individuals have been arrested in response to Brazil’s state army police, together with one lady who racially abused a member of stadium employees.
The pre-match incident is being attributed to the truth that opposing followers have been too shut to one another and that the safety association was not enough to forestall such an interplay. Col. Vagner Ferreira, commander of the Particular Battalion of Stadium Policing, mentioned the ticketing scenario led to motion on the officers’ half.
“Usually, in each recreation, there may be an space for away followers and an space for the house followers,” Ferriera mentioned, per The Athletic. “As we speak, I feel the large drawback — for particular person and public security — was the best way the tickets have been bought, all blended collectively across the Maracana.”
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Ferreira then defended the police’s response to the incident.
“I imagine that each motion corresponds to a response,” he continued. “There’s a historical past of sure units of followers having better confrontation with safety forces. I feel that was the trigger. It was obligatory to make use of growing power. Initially, we used verbal warnings. Later, we had to make use of the batons. There was no use of non-lethal rounds, rubber bullets. We didn’t use tear gasoline. We have been very technical, doing what stadium police know how you can do.”
The day after the occasion, the CBF tried to absolve themselves of wrongdoing and described the ticketing scenario as “commonplace.”
“This isn’t a mannequin invented or imposed by the CBF,” the confederation mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday, per CNN. “Due to this fact, the CBF reaffirms that the motion, safety and operation plan for the match have been strictly adopted.”
The CBF additionally mentioned that 700 army law enforcement officials and 1,500 personal safety guards have been on employees on the Maracana on Tuesday.
Messi additionally mentioned he observed a sample after the identical venue was additionally suffering from fan violence earlier this month, when three people were arrested forward of the Copa Libertadores closing between Brazil’s Fluminense and Argentina’s Boca Juniors.
“It already occurred within the Libertadores closing (the place there have been clashes between Boca Juniors and Fluminense supporters and the police on the Maracana),” Messi mentioned. “We went to the locker room as a result of it was the easiest way to calm the whole lot down, it might have led to tragedy.”
