SAO PAULO -- A 34-year-old Brazilian football fan was been beaten to death by supporters from a rival team following a high-profile match in the Sao Paulo state championship, police said on Monday.
Authorities said the Santos supporter was at a bus stop after the game on Sunday when members of a Sao Paulo fan group drove by and started attacking him with punches, kicks and iron bars.
Marcio Barreto de Toledo, who was wearing a shirt that identified him as a member of a Santos fan group, died at a hospital from multiple head injuries.
Police were investigating the attack, which happened after the teams' 0-0 draw at Morumbi Stadium.
Authorities said they were also investigating another confrontation that left at least one other Santos fan injured. Local media said a teenager was shot in that fighting, but no other details were immediately available.
"It was a cowardly act to attack a 34-year-old father who was just trying to get home after a match," Cosme Damiao Freitas, a director at the Santos fan group Torcida Jovem, told the Agencia Estado news service.
Fan groups have been at the root of fan violence in World Cup host Brazil, with confrontations in and outside stadiums becoming a common occurrence.
Last year's Brazilian league was blighted by brawls. A confrontation in a decisive match in the final round made headlines across the world, with hundreds of rival fans charging against each other in the stands. Four men were seriously injured and the game had to be interrupted. One of the injured had to be airlifted from the pitch to a hospital.
This year, two different shootings were reported outside the World Cup stadium Arena das Dunas in the northeastern city of Natal, both times involving rival groups. No one was seriously hurt.
Also, nearly 200 members of a Corinthians fan group invaded the team's training centre to threaten players. Some of them grabbed Peru striker Paolo Guerrero by his neck to complain of poor results and demand better performances. Corinthians' training center will be used by Iran's national team during the World Cup in June.
FIFA and the local World Cup organising committee have been saying that similar confrontations between fans groups are not expected during World Cup matches, where security will be tighter.
Soccer Hot News
A-League Preview: Melbourne derby takes centre stage
The Melbourne derby takes centre stage in round 21 of the A-League, while Central Coast and Perth desperately need wins.
Bottom-of-the-table Melbourne Heart somewhat surprisingly start as favourites against third-placed rivals Victory at AAMI Park on Saturday.
John van ‘t Schip’s men have won four straight matches, including a shock 1-0 victory over league leaders Brisbane last time out.
The run has given them some hope of making the top six, now just six points behind Central Coast with seven regular-season matches remaining.
Midfielder Orlando Engelaar’s return from injury has been a key to their run, while Mate Dugandzic has started to recapture some of his best form.
Victory are on a three-match winning run heading into the clash, but have the tough task of playing twice in four days.
Kevin Muscat’s side face Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday before returning from China for the derby.
They may still be conceding goals – their last clean sheet was in mid-December – but their attack with Gui Finkler, James Troisi, Tom Rogic and Archie Thompson is in good form.
Sixth-placed Central Coast, who are also in Champions League action in mid-week, host Sydney on Saturday.
Phil Moss’ men are on a four-match losing run they desperately need to end if they want to play finals.
The Mariners have struggled to replace the players they lost in January in Michael McGlinchey (loaned to Vegalta Sendai), Trent Sainsbury (PEC Zwolle) and Daniel McBreen (Shanghai SIPG).
In one of the matches of the round, Adelaide host Wellington on Thursday.
Josep Gombau’s Adelaide suffered a 4-3 loss last time out and sit fifth, while the in-form Phoenix are seventh.
Perth Glory could slip to the bottom of the table as they prepare for a clash against the Brisbane Roar, who are four points clear at the top despite back-to-back losses, on Friday.
Winless in their past six matches, and whenever former Arsenal and Chelsea defender William Gallas has played, the Glory need to turn their horror run around, while the veteran Frenchman will be keen to improve on a horror showing in Perth’s 2-0 loss last week.
Western Sydney should fancy their chances at home to Newcastle on Sunday despite also being in Champions League action during the week.
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