A stone was thrown towards the Palmeiras women’s team bus on Thursday night (21), according to information released by the club.
The players and team were on their way to the Campeonato Paulista awards ceremony, an event promoted by the São Paulo Football Federation.
The vehicle was hit on a section of the Castelo Branco highway, on the way from Vinhedo (SP), where the athletes train, to the capital. The stone was thrown towards the driver, who was hit by shrapnel. He was not seriously injured.
“The club repudiates this sad episode of violence, which could have caused a tragedy,” said Palmeiras management, in a statement published on social media.
The São Paulo Federation also regretted the fact. “The acts against the great champion of São Paulo must be investigated and punished with the rigor of the law”, states the entity.
“We ask that what we have seen in men’s football does not reach women’s football,” said Alberto Simão, the club’s executive director. According to him, the stone was large and could have caused the driver’s death.
The players won their third title on Wednesday (20), in a game against Corinthians, at the Brinco de Ouro da Princesa stadium, in Campinas. The team reversed the deficit from the first game with a 2-1 victory in regulation time and won 2-0 on penalties.
The match took place in Campinas on the recommendation of the Military Police, due to the risk of confrontation between organized fans.
Also on Wednesday, the men’s Corinthians hosted Cruzeiro in Itaquera, in a match valid for the 34th round of the Brazilian Championship, which ended with a 2-1 black and white victory.
At the end of October, Cruzeiro fans were ambushed by members of Mancha Verde on the Fernão Dias highway, which resulted in the death of a Cruzeiro fan, in addition to 20 injuries.
