Fernando Romero Nuñez 
A series of disturbances ended with over 200 Uruguayan football fans arrested in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday. The incidents took place ahead of the Copa Libertadores clash between Uruguay giants Peñarol and home team Botafogo set to kick off later that same day.
Rio de Janeiro state governor Cláudio Castro confirmed the Uruguayan fans had been detained and were being transported to police facilities in northern Rio.
“Rio is no place for troublemakers,” wrote Castro. “I ordered the police to arrest and transport any Peñarol fans responsible for the disturbances out of the city.”
The Rio de Janeiro Military Police confirmed that it had been requested to intervene after Peñarol fans committed “a series of acts of vandalism, looting, and damages to commercial establishments and vehicles.”
Videos that went viral on social media platforms show Aurinegro fans throwing sticks and stones to attack the police who responded with pepper spray and rubber bullets.
According to the Brazilian news outlet O Globo, the incidents started on the Recreio dos Bandeirantes beach in western Rio. Peñarol fans attacked security agents and beachgoers with stones and sticks, and set fire to vehicles.
Images of Uruguayan fans being crammed into cars for transportation also appeared after the incidents had ended.
Another episode of violence in football in Rio de Janeiro
Wednesday’s incidents are part of a long list of episodes of football-related violence that have taken place in Brazil over the past year.
In August, four San Lorenzo fans were assaulted and later arrested by police in Brazil following incidents during their clash against Atletico Mineiro in their Copa Libertadores round-of-16 clash.
The Brazilian police intervened as the match was ending by throwing tear gas — which drifted into the pitch, making players from both sides throw up and forcing the referee to stop the match. Officials then clubbed the Argentine fans with batons and shot rubber bullets into the crowd, nearly causing a stampede.
In November 2023, two incidents marked the tense relationship between away football fans and Brazilian police. First, Boca fans in Rio de Janeiro hoping to watch the Copa Libertadores final between the Xeneize and Rio side Fluminense claimed Brazilian police let the locals attack them only to then intervene.
Law enforcement cracked down on dozens of Boca fans with pepper spray and tear gas. Two Argentine fans and a Fluminense supporter were arrested close to the Othon Hotel, where Boca fans were based at the time.
A fortnight later, the Rio de Janeiro police violently went after Argentine fans at the Maracana stadium during a game between both national teams. The incident started as some Albiceleste fans insulted and threw chairs at Brazilians booing over the Argentine anthem.
The Rio police quickly started cracking down on the Argentines. The incident escalated as the Argentine players tried to intervene, with Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez attempting to climb over the ad boards to stand between fans and the police.
