On October 23, over 250 supporters of Montevideo-based Peñarol soccer club were detained after clashes with Brazilian law enforcement ahead of the semifinal match against the Rio de Janeiro-based host, Botafogo.
Local police said that the Peñarol fans had participated in “a series of acts of vandalism, looting and destruction of business places and vehicles.”
Video footage showed the Peñarol supporters, identifiable by their yellow and black striped shirts, throwing stones at police officers, using tables from local kiosks to defend themselves, and setting motorbikes alight. Peñarol fans reportedly used tent poles as improvised weapons, and firefighters had to be called in response to burning vehicles. Police also recovered one pistol.
Most of the arrested fans were released after cooperation between Peñarol soccer club, the Uruguayan consulate, and the Brazilian government. However, 22 fans, including one minor, remained in detention.
One fan who was released after being detained for seven hours recalled: “They made us line up single file and led us into a small room, not knowing what was about to happen. The moment the officer stepped inside, we saw a line of about 20 or 25 soldiers. The first one landed a punch straight into my stomach, and that’s when we realized what was coming.”
He continued, “The police kept hitting us and cursing us. That’s how it was for the seven hours they had us there,” alleging that, prior to the release of most of the fans, special police forces entered the room full of over 250 people and sprayed them all with pepper spray.
Last week, relatives of the detainees organized a protest at Uruguay’s national soccer stadium, the Centenario Stadium, ahead of the home leg of the semi-final against Botafogo. They carried banners with slogans such as “Defending yourself is not a crime” and “Families united for the same cause.” Fans also threw stones at two buses transporting Botafogo fans to the stadium.
Former President of Peñarol and lawyer for the club, Jorge Barrera, said of the situation: “Nobody justifies criminal behavior, but this was a scandal.”
