The bus taking the Botafogo delegation to the Centenario stadium, in Montevideo, Uruguay, stage of the return match against Peñarol in the Libertadores semi-final, was the target of an attack this Wednesday (30). Fans of the home team threw stones at the vehicle, which had some windows damaged. There are no reports of injuries.
The match is scheduled to start at 9:45 pm. In the first leg, the Brazilians won 5-0.
The act of vandalism is yet another episode that marks the tumultuous meeting between Brazilians and Uruguayans in this semifinal. Initially scheduled for the Campeón Del Siglo stadium, which belongs to Peñarol, the game was transferred to Centenario precisely for security reasons.
According to the director of the National Police of Uruguay, José Manuel Azambuya, it was not possible to guarantee the protection of all fans at Del Siglo, where Botafogo fans had even been banned. The ban was a consequence of the scenes of violence seen in Rio de Janeiro last week, in the first clash between the teams.
On that occasion, more than 280 Peñarol fans were detained in the north of Rio after a widespread fight on the edge of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the west of the city. The majority were released, but around 20 are still detained.
Days after the incident, the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior announced the ban on the presence of fans of the Brazilian team in the Uruguayan team’s stadium.
“The events in Rio triggered events that increase the hostile atmosphere and highlight the high risk that would exist” in a possible meeting of these fans, wrote Martinelli, minister in Luis Lacalle Pou’s government, on social media.
The veto only fell when Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) determined the change of stadium and had the Uruguayan government’s agreement.
Even with increased security, in addition to the attack on the Botafogo delegation bus, vehicles taking the club’s fans to Centenario were also attacked this Wednesday. Several objects, such as hammers, were thrown at the fans’ buses. Because of this, the Brazilians had to continue the journey lying down in the vehicles to protect themselves.
Furthermore, in the morning, fans of both clubs clashed in a fight in an area close to where the Rio club’s delegation was staying. The conflict took place at a gas station, but, according to information from El País, there were no injuries reported.
