Confrontation between fans and police after the electric trio parade resulted in tear gas, rubber bullets and injuries; city hall estimates 500 thousand people on the streets
The celebration of the fourth Libertadores championship ended in turmoil this Sunday afternoon (30), in the center of . The confrontation occurred shortly after the end of the electric trio parade that took players and coaching staff through the streets of the Center. Military police used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse fans.
The confusion began when a cordon was formed to open passage for buses that would take the athletes out of the region. Part of the public was trapped behind bars and tried to advance over the blockade, knocking down containment structures. According to reports, some fans also threw stones at the police. At least two people were rescued on stretchers and taken to Souza Aguiar Municipal Hospital. There are reports of other injuries.
The riot occurred in the vicinity of Avenida Presidente Wilson and Rua Araújo Porto Alegre, close to the Ministry of Finance building. The police action lasted just a few minutes, and the crowd ended up dispersing into nearby streets, where the party continued. At around 4pm, all roads blocked for the event were reopened, and Comlurb teams began cleaning.
The celebration began in the morning, when the red and black delegation landed at Galeão airport from Lima, Peru. The players only left the terminal after 12:30 pm and arrived at the Center around 1:00 pm, boarding the electric train under the strong sun and temperatures above 30°C. City hall estimates that around 500,000 people passed through the region during the parade. There were records of fans becoming ill due to the heat, and four medical stations were set up for emergency care.
The parade ran along Primeiro de Março Street and Presidente Antônio Carlos Avenue — named Circuito Preta Gil, in honor of the red-black singer and fan — until Araújo Porto Alegre Street. Before the cast arrived, fans climbed onto marquees, poles and windows to try to follow the route, despite repeated warnings from the city hall about the risk of these structures, reinforced by Mayor Eduardo Paes on social media.
In the electric trio, the striker, still recovering from an injury, led the party, took corners from the stands and interacted with the public in live broadcasts. The Libertadores cup — damaged during the celebrations in Lima — was displayed and passed from hand to hand among the players. Flamengo won their fourth title on Saturday (29), by beating Palmeiras 1-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Lima, with a goal from Danilo.
