Tragedy Strikes Brazilian Football After Fan Killed by Glass Bottle
Brazilian football was struck by tragedy on Saturday when 23-year-old Palmeiras fan Gabriela Anelli was killed after being hit by a glass bottle outside Allianz Parque in Sao Paulo. In response, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced that a minute’s silence will be observed at all games in the 15th round of the Brazilian championship in honour of Anelli.
Violence at Football Games
The incident occurred during a brawl between Palmeiras and Flamengo fans, and police were also attacked with glass bottles and had to use pepper spray to try to restore order. The spray seeped into the stadium and the referee had to stop the match twice in the first half due to the players feeling irritation in their eyes and nose.
The CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said he was working with the federal government and other relevant bodies to stop “criminal and sad episodes like this from happening again”. He also said that “football is passion and not a space for the action of criminals infiltrating the fans to practise all kinds of violence”.
Tributes to Gabriela Anelli
Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal’s Brazilian striker, was among those to pay tribute to Anelli, calling the incident “a sad day for Brazilian football”. He tweeted: “Gabi was only 23 years old and had a whole life ahead of her, which ended up being taken away by the violence in the stadiums. May we reflect and unite for the end of this violence. And may God comfort Gabi’s family…”
Palmeiras expressed solidarity with Anelli’s family, saying: “We cannot accept that a 23-year-old girl should be the victim of barbarism in an environment that should be one of entertainment”. Flamengo also tweeted: “On an occasion that should have been a purely sporting dispute, a young woman lost her life in a barbaric and unjustifiable manner that deserves to be punished rigorously.”
The Person Responsible for Throwing the Bottle Arrested
A police spokesperson said on Monday that the person responsible for throwing the bottle was arrested and will be charged with intentional homicide. The investigation is ongoing and it is hoped that justice will be served for Anelli’s death.
Conclusion
The death of Gabriela Anelli has been a tragedy for Brazilian football and has highlighted the need for greater security measures at football games. The CBF’s decision to hold a minute’s silence at all games in the 15th round of the Brazilian championship is a fitting tribute to Anelli and serves as a reminder of the dangers of violence in football.