A tragic incident occurred in São Paulo state on Sunday morning when a 30-year-old Cruzeiro football fan was fatally ambushed by rival supporters, leading to at least 12 other fans sustaining injuries. The victim was confirmed dead at a hospital in Mairiporã, located 46 kilometers (28 miles) north of São Paulo.
The group of Cruzeiro fans was returning to Belo Horizonte by bus after watching their team suffer a 3-0 defeat against Athletico Paranaense in Brazil’s top-tier league on Saturday. Brazilian federal road police reported that the attack was executed by ultra supporters of Palmeiras, Cruzeiro’s long-standing rivals.
Dramatic footage broadcasted on Brazilian television revealed scenes of chaos, with a bus set ablaze and several Cruzeiro fans lying injured on the sidewalk as Palmeiras supporters violently assaulted them with fists and sticks.
In response to the violence, Cruzeiro expressed their sorrow on social media, stating they “deeply regret yet another incident of fan violence” in Brazil, emphasizing that “several fans were wounded” in the attack.
As of now, Palmeiras, based in São Paulo, has not issued any comment regarding the incident. The situation has once again highlighted the persistent issue of fan violence in Brazilian football, prompting calls for urgent measures to ensure the safety of supporters.
