By David Gold
July 25 – A riot in a São Paulo derby between Guarani and Ponte Preta has raised fresh doubts on Brazil’s preparations for the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil has been criticised frequently for the slow pace of the construction of its stadia, as well as the range of infrastructural problems they are facing, including a race against time to increase air capacity for the 2014 showpiece.
When fighting began in the stands in the Brazilian Serie B clash, police were forced to intervene with rubber bullets to help quell the violence.
The cause of the violence seemed to be a provocative announcement over the tannoy at half time.
With Ponte Preta leading 1-0 at home, the stadium announcer encouraged their fans to keep cheering and told the Guarani fans to act like chickens – a reference to a long-standing joke among the home crowd who label their rivals “scary chickens”.
With the match televised live, Guarani fans responded angrily, and after some minor scuffling the unrest developed into widespread vandalism, causing fighting to break out in the streets after the game.
Portuguese website Paulinia News reported that 27 people were injured, almost half of whom were police officers.
The Brazilian league can punish both teams with fines and the possibility of being forced to play games behind closed doors.
The father of a boy injured in the violence, Wilson Matos, said: “Brazil is not ready to host a World Cup yet.
“Not only are the stadiums behind schedule, but what worries me the most is how they are planning on taking care of fan safety in and around the stadiums.
“I’m ashamed of my home country – if my kid got beat up at a game, everyone visiting the country for a soccer match is vulnerable as well.”
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