December 10, 2013 -- Updated 1926 GMT (0326 HKT)
Brazil's image as host of next year's FIFA World Cup took a hit when
police fired tear gas at fans of rival teams fighting in the stands
during a deciding league match on Sunday. FULL STORY
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VIDEO
Brazil: Police fire tear gas as fierce fighting erupts in football stands
December 9, 2013 -- Updated 0212 GMT (1012 HKT)
Fighting erupts in football stands
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- A doctor tells local media that three fans were critically injured
- Photos show tear gas, punches, kicking and bloodied fans
- The fight comes as Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup
The fighting erupted in
the stands just 10 minutes into the game Vasco de Gama needed to win to
have a spot in the top league division.
Their rival, Atletico
Paranaense, had scored the first goal when people in the stands started
throwing punches and kicks. One man wielded a metal pipe and swung it
toward a fallen fan. Security forces fired tear gas into the crowd.
The game was interrupted, and a helicopter landed on the field to take away an injured spectator.
Photos from the stadium show emergency workers carrying bloodied fans on stretchers.
Dr. Jose Eduardo Dias, one of the first doctors to arrive at the scene, said three people were critically injured.
"One was taken by the
helicopter, and two others were taken on an ambulance," he told SporTV, a
sister network of CNN affiliate TV Globo.
There were 80 private
security guards inside the stadium when the fight broke out, Military
Police Cmdr. Adilson Moreira told SporTV. Afterward, there were 160
government troops inside, he said.
Moreira said he didn't think heavier policing would have stopped the brawl.
"The fight could have
broken out even if we were policing the area," he said. "It is the
culture of the Brazilian fan. When they want to fight, they come to the
stadium ready to fight. And unfortunately, even with our presence, this
would have happened."
Vasco's goalkeeper Alessandro Oltramari told SporTV that he could see all the violence.
"This is very
regrettable, especially since the country will be hosting the World Cup
next year. It's regrettable when things like this happen," he said.
Tensions were high coming into the game between the Vasco and Atletico-PR teams in the final round of a high-profile tournament.
Days earlier, a post on a website for Atletico-PR's fans warned that violence was possible.
"Because of the high
risk of fights and confrontations on the road and in regards to the high
number of fans from rival teams coming to the last round of games," the website said, "we will not be selling tickets to women or children."
The game resumed after more than an hour, and Vasco lost 5-1.
CNN's Elwyn Lopez and Susanna Capelouto contributed to this reportTOP LATIN AMERICAN STORIES
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