By Andrew Warshaw in Belo Horizonte
June 19 – In the worst security breach so far at the World Cup, dozens of ticketless Chilean fans burst through a checkpoint at the iconic Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro today and surged through the media centre trying to find a way into the sold-out tie against Spain.
The vandals, whose team gained a famous victory on the pitch by knocking out the world champions, shoved their way past working journalists, breaking down temporary walls, overturning tables and equipment and sending metal lockers used for journalists’ possessions tumbling to the ground.
They were apprehended after about 15 minutes later, an hour before kickoff.
Rio de Janeiro’s state security department said 85 fans were detained though some reports said well over 100 demonstrators were involved, many of them chanting “FIFA is a mafia”, reminiscent of the street protests by Brazilian citizens that have taken place in many cities against the cost of staging the World Cup.
In a joint statement, FIFA and Brazilian World Cup organizers said they “condemn these acts of violence.”
“Ahead of the Spain versus Chile match at the Maracana a group of individuals without tickets violently forced entry into the stadium, breaking fences and overrunning security,” the statement said. “They were contained by the security and did not make it to the seats.
“A group of individuals without tickets violently forced entry into the stadium, breaking fences and overrunning security.”
Many fans covered their faces with scarves bearing Chile’s logo as they were photographed and filmed. Once the protest was over, security was beefed up, with long lines of armed staff monitoring thousands of fans as they entered the stadium.
The protesters were furious that they had not been able to obtain tickets and that touts were selling them on the black market at extortionate prices but some reports said laptops, cameras and mobile phones were looted during the break-in.
The incident will fuel major concerns for FIFA and tournament organisers especially since it took place at the venue that will stage the final on July 13. On an almost daily basis, FIFA have been playing up how brilliant the atmosphere has been inside the stadiums – which is true – and how efficient the authorities have been in terms of fans getting in and out. But newspaper photographs and television pictures will now tell a different story in terms of the latter.
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