Tensions spike in Rio de Janeiro forward of Copa Libertadores soccer remaining and after Copacabana brawl

RIO DE JANEIRO — Tensions remained excessive Friday in Rio de Janeiro on the eve of the Copa Libertadores soccer remaining, following a brawl between fan golf equipment and a fierce police response on the Copacabana seashore yesterday.

The incident marred the thrill forward of the sport between Brazil’s Fluminense and Argentina’s Boca Juniors, due on Saturday at Rio de Janeiro’s famed Maracana stadium.

A mob swept throughout Copacabana seashore, sending a whole bunch of others stampeding away from the commotion, some clutching caipirinhas and rapidly gathered garments.

Conmebol, the continental governing physique of soccer in South America, met Friday with administrators of the Brazilian Football Confederation, the Argentine Football Association, Fluminense and Boca Juniors to debate safety.

The assembly was known as after Thursday’s bawl on Copacabana that noticed 9 arrested throughout the town’s prosperous southern zone, police mentioned.

Brazil’s police have drawn criticism for his or her response as pictures posted on social media by Argentine’s Diario Olé outlet confirmed one officer pointing his gun at supporters on the seashore and others utilizing batons in opposition to Boca followers.

It wasn’t instantly clear if dwell ammunition was concerned however no followers had been reported shot by police.

“Nothing justifies a repression as brutal as that seen in Copacabana, where there were even children,” Argentina’s Ambassador to Brazil Daniel Scioli mentioned Thursday night on X, previously referred to as Twitter.

“You mistreated us,” learn the Portuguese headline on the Argentine day by day’s Diario Olé entrance web page on Friday, plastered throughout what seemed to be a screenshot from the video exhibiting police in army gear, pointing their weapons.

Fans of Boca had gathered within the Buenos Aires bar on Copacabana, ingesting and singing all day Thursday, mentioned Facundo Barbero, a 39-year-old Argentine who has been residing in Rio for 5 years and who was among the many followers on the bar.

“Fluminense fans came to take photos with the Argentines and the atmosphere was relaxed until 19:30 when the police arrived, hitting people with batons, firing shots and using tear gas,” Barbero mentioned.

Conmebol hopes to keep away from holding the ultimate with out spectators, which might tarnish the picture of the match, Globo information outlet reported.

“It is essential to take extreme precaution,” Conmebol mentioned in a press release after Friday’s assembly and urged followers of Boca Juniors and Fluminense “to share together the moments of joy and celebration that soccer gives us.”