Punishment on Maracanã intruders was 'lenient', says Consul

Speaking to journalists at a press conference on Thursday (Jun 19), the Consul of Chile in Rio de Janeiro, Samuel Ossa, said the punishment on a group of Chileans held Wednesday (18) after breaking into the Maracanã stadium in Rio was “lenient”.

With no tickets to view Chile play Spain on Wednesday (18), 88 Chilean fans stormed the Media Centre, knocked down the temporary walls, and some of them even made it to the pitch. They were charged with intrusion and damage of sports facilities based on the so-called Supporter's Statute. Chileans have until Sunday midnight (22) to leave the country, subject to deportation.

“What they did is unacceptable. As is the case with all other visitors, we can't just sit back and watch. We appreciate Brazilian authorities' understanding and complacency to allow the Chileans to leave within 72 hours when they could have been kept in custody and deported. It was quite lenient considering what they did because obviously being jailed would have been much worse,” he remarked. According to Ossa, most of the involved Chileans admitted that they were wrong and must pay for what they did.

Besides the Chileans, a Bolivian and a Colombian were arrested, Ossa reported. Two of the Chilean detainees live in Brazil and will be allowed to remain in the country, but they are barred from watching any World Cup matches.

The Embassy of Chile said it will not cover the costs of the return trip. “We are helping [the detained Chileans] contact their families by phone or online so they can make the necessary arrangements to meet the departure deadline,” Ossa explained.

Chile beat Spain 2-0 and qualified for the quarter finals, knocking reigning World Cup champion Spain out of the competition.

*With additional reporting by Tâmara Freire from Rádio Nacional

Translated by Mayra Borges