South American soccer’s governing body, CONMEBOL, strongly denounced acts of violence following the arrest of three fans involved in a brawl in Rio de Janeiro, just days before the highly anticipated Copa Libertadores final between Argentina’s Boca Juniors and Brazil’s Fluminense.
The altercation led to the apprehension of two Argentine fans and one Brazilian, according to the state’s Military Police. The Copa Libertadores final, often likened to Europe’s Champions League, is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
In a statement released by CONMEBOL, the organization urged fans of Boca Juniors and Fluminense to come together and celebrate the joy of football, emphasizing the need for peaceful and harmonious behavior among supporters. CONMEBOL unequivocally repudiated any instances of violence and racism that might mar the final’s environment.
Local security agents intervened when they observed fans clashing at the Copacabana beach fan fest. The police swiftly surrounded the area and restored order, subsequently detaining two Argentine tourists and one Brazilian individual. This incident, marked by violence, has raised tensions between the two sets of supporters.
Reports from locals suggested that Argentine visitors were responsible for the violence, while Boca fans claimed that Fluminense supporters had orchestrated an organized attack on the beach, culminating in police resorting to tear gas and rubber bullets to restore order.
The upcoming Copa Libertadores final, set to be held at the Maracanã stadium on Saturday, is expected to draw approximately 20,000 Boca fans, as they seek their seventh Libertadores title. Fluminense, playing on their home turf, aims to secure their first continental trophy after their previous loss to Ecuador’s Liga de Quito in the 2008 final. The final remains a highly anticipated and potentially contentious clash between the two renowned football clubs.
