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Ticket-buying frenzy Scramble for world club final sparks teargas, injuries
Posted: Thursday January 13, 2000 05:32 PM
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -- Dozens of people passed out in the heat and at least four were injured when police hurled teargas on Thursday as supporters tried to buy tickets for the World Club championship final, witnesses said. Chaos reigned at the Sao Januario stadium, where 49,000 tickets were put on sale for Friday's all-Brazilian final between local side Vasco da Gama and Corinthians from Sao Paulo. The stadium is the only place in Rio where tickets can be bought. Angry supporters, in a queue that did not seem to be moving, told Reuters they had been standing for hours in the blazing sun without getting noticeably closer to the ticket window. "I've been here since five o'clock in the morning," said student Luis Cesar da Silva early on Thursday afternoon. "It looks like the tickets have all been sold to the touts." "Give the 2006 World Cup to Africa," he said, referring to Brazil's bid to host the competition. "They can't even organize this and it's only being held in one city." A Reuters reporter at the stadium witnessed dramatic scenes near the four tiny ticket windows, where the queue degenerated into a massive crush of pushing, sweating and swearing supporters. Police stood around and watched. Empty mineral water bottles covered much of the street; touts offered tickets for up to six times their face value; and supporters were heard to shout abusive comments about Vasco director Eurico Miranda. Supporters said that by daybreak the queue had extended around the stadium but that tickets had gone on sale only around ten o'clock, two hours later than advertised. Shortly afterwards fighting broke out, fans said. They said that riot police arrived, hurling teargas and injuring four people. One man showed a badly gashed leg that he said was caused by the police. Dozens of people were also affected by the heat as the temperature rose well into the 30s Celsius. Some were treated by the club and others helped by fellow fans. "The police were not advised about what sort of security measures were needed," said spokesman Aleucy Bento. Tournament organizers appeared indifferent to the plight of the supporters during a media conference held in the air-conditioned comfort of a five-star hotel. Ricardo Teixeira, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, said the situation was normal. "The demand is bigger than the supply," he said. "It's normal that there is big demand. I'm sure this will not upset the championship."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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