A Cruzeiro soccer fan died and multiple others were injured following a coordinated attack by rival fans on the Fernao Dias highway in Sao Paulo, Brazil, early Sunday morning, October 27, 2024, authorities confirmed.
The 30-year-old victim, whose name has not been released by authorities, was pronounced dead at a hospital in Mairiporã, located 28 miles north of Sao Paulo. At least 12 other Cruzeiro fans sustained injuries during the attack, with several requiring immediate medical attention for head trauma and burns, according to local police reports.
The violence erupted as Cruzeiro supporters, known as Mafia Azul, returned by bus to Belo Horizonte following their team’s 3-0 loss to Athletico Paranaense in a Brazilian league match on Saturday. The group of ultra-supporters from Palmeiras, identified as Mancha Verde, allegedly orchestrated an ambush using homemade bombs, fireworks, and nails scattered across the road to disable the bus.
Video footage broadcast on Brazilian television captured scenes of the Cruzeiro bus engulfed in flames. Several supporters were shown lying on the sidewalk as they were struck with iron bars and punched by the attacking group. The federal road police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Cruzeiro shared on its social media channels how deeply saddened it is by yet another episode of fan violence in Brazil.
The attack appears to be retaliatory, stemming from a violent confrontation between the two supporter groups in September 2022, which resulted in four people being shot and ten others injured. Brazilian football has experienced similar incidents of violence in recent years, including clashes between Fluminense ultras and police in 2023 and a bomb attack at a Cruzeiro match in 2019.
São Paulo’s public security secretariat confirmed that Palmeiras ultra-supporters carried out the attack. The Sao Paulo-based club has not issued a statement regarding the incident or the actions of its supporter group.
The Brazil federal road police continue to gather evidence from the scene, including surveillance footage from nearby cameras and witness statements. Local authorities are working to identify the individuals involved in the orchestrated attack.