No uniforms allowed for football fans in classic matches

After brawls between fans of Palmeiras and Corinthians on Sunday (Apr. 3) resulted in the death of a passer-by, São Paulo Public Security Secretary Alexandre Moraes met with São Paulo Football Federation vice-President Fernando Sollero and  prosecutor Paulo Castilho, and stipulated the end of team divisions in the bleachers for classic football matches in São Paulo stadiums up to the end of the year, starting from the next game. The new rule also prevents fans from attending the matches wearing uniforms.

The measure will also apply to all matches in the Copa Libertadores da América international tournament and the Campeonato Brasileiro league. The secretary announced that the approximately 50 fans involved in the clashes should be banned from the stadiums, though for how long has not been specified. Fan club members are also prohibited from carrying banners or props, flags included. The banners recently displayed Gaviões da Fiel, a Corinthians fan club, which call for the investigation of a scandal involving São Paulo politicians, is also banned.

According to Alexandre Moraes, state prosecutors will also be asked to file a motion against Macha Alviverde (Palmeiras) and Camisa 12 (Corinthians) fan clubs on the vandalizing of Brás metro station, which may levy execution on the assets of the two associations to afford the repair of the damages incurred. It has already been ruled, however, that, in order to prevent the direct sale of tickets to fan clubs through the teams, tickets to any match in São Paulo will only be available individually online, with previous registration and identification through buyers' tax number as requirements.

According to prosecutor Paulo Castilho, violence “is being cracked down on.” “We've taken some immediate strict measures. Fan clubs cannot remain the way they are. Selling tickets online prevent the teams from encouraging fan clubs. The institutions have come together to fight violence,” he said.

During a clash on Sunday, a pedestrian near the conflict was shot dead. The killer is yet to be identified, but the secretary denied that the victim, a 60-year-old man, who had no connection with the football fans, was killed by a shot fired by a police officer. The fans arrested after the rioting have already been released. “They're out because they were granted liberty from the court. We can't be harsher than what the law stipulates. We can [only] go as far as the law allows,” the secretary said.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira