REPUDIATION NOTE
By Communication - Flamengo - in
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo comes to the public, after the regrettable scenes of savagery that occurred yesterday, November 10, 2024, inside and outside the premises of the Clube Atlético Mineiro arena, expresses its absolute repudiation in the face of the aggressions suffered by the fans, professionals involved in the spectacle, players and technical committee of this club.
Unfortunately, the warlike situation witnessed yesterday is nothing new in games played in Belo Horizonte against Atlético Mineiro. The rivalry between the teams, which should have been kept within the confines of sports, has, in a healthy manner, gone beyond what is reasonable, so the authorities (the Public Prosecutor's Office, Public Security Agencies, the Superior Court of Sports Justice, the Brazilian Football Confederation, among others) need and must take urgent action.
The entire country witnessed the various and serious acts of violence committed yesterday by Atlético Mineiro fans. The episodes of violence that occurred on Sunday cannot be ignored or simply forgotten. They must be treated with the importance and attention they deserve.
The MRV Arena managers, along with the board of directors of Clube Atlético Mineiro, had a legal obligation to organize the event and ensure the safety of those in attendance, and they failed to do so. The inspection and search of attendees was completely flawed, allowing bombs and other devices to enter, causing damage and injuries.
Even though the press has already listed the absurdities that occurred yesterday, Flamengo understands that it is extremely important to remember some of these events:
1. There was widespread confusion as Flamengo fans entered the stadium, as the turnstile system in the visiting section couldn't accommodate them. The Minas Gerais police acted violently, spraying pepper spray on the fans, including elderly people, women, and children.
2. The bars intended for Flamengo fans stopped selling drinks and soft drinks in the first half of the game, and in addition to the intense heat, Flamengo fans did not even have access to drinking water, to clean their faces due to the constant use of pepper spray, and also for hydration.
3. The box reserved for Flamengo's executives and coaching staff lacked the security necessary for an event of this magnitude. Several Atlético Mineiro fans insulted and threatened Flamengo's executives, staff, and their families on the way to and from the boxes.
4. Numerous bombs were thrown onto the field, one of which exploded very close to Flamengo's goalkeeper (Rossi), another almost hit player Plata during the goal celebration and a third, unfortunately, hit a reporter who was working on the game (Nurenberg José Maria), who did not even have the help of a stretcher on the field, having to walk with broken fingers and a ruptured tendon, even having to undergo surgery, as widely reported by the media.
5. Throughout the match, cups and other objects were thrown at Flamengo players, both on the field and on the bench, without Arena security intervening to stop these throws.
6. Invasion of the pitch by Atlético Mineiro fans, with the aim of physically attacking Flamengo players and members of the coaching staff.
7. During the entire celebration and awards ceremony, those responsible for Arena MRV deliberately and unsportsmanlikely turned on the stadium's sound system at full volume to play the Clube Atlético Mineiro anthem repeatedly for almost an hour, in a disrespectful and unethical manner, in a manner contrary to Fair Play.
8. Acts of racism and misogyny were observed by Atlético Mineiro fans towards Flamengo fans and female media professionals.
9. Also noteworthy are several reports of ambushes by Atlético Mineiro fans on Flamengo fans' buses, as well as complaints from journalists about the working conditions at the stadium.
Therefore, considering the facts described above, as well as the clear lack of security inside and outside the MRV Arena, we hope that the Sports Court, together with the CBF, takes a firm stance to ensure that all those responsible for the acts of vandalism, aggression and savagery that tarnished the image of one of the biggest competitions in Brazilian football are punished.
SRN