Stadium damaged when Cruzeiro soccer fans riot
SHOWS:
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL (DECEMBER 8, 2019)(STILL PHOTOS-MUTE)(ESTADIO MINEIRAO - NO RESALE / MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY ESTADIO MINEIRAO)
1. STILL PHOTO OF DAMAGE DONE TO BATHROOM INSIDE STADIUM
2. STILL PHOTO OF DEBRIS LYING ON FLOOR OF STADIUM
3. STILL PHOTO OF DEBRIS AND TRASH ON FLOOR OF STADIUM
4. STILL PHOTO OF BROKEN TELEVISIONS
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL (DECEMBER 8, 2019)(FREDERICO MARCOS FERNANDES - NO RESALE / MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY FREDERICO MARCOS FERNANDES)
5. PEOPLE WALKING IN STADIUM AFTER TROUBLE STARTED - LOUD CRASH CAN HEARD IN BACKGROUND
STORY: Cruzeiro's final match of the season was abandoned before the end on Sunday (December 8) when fans ripped up seats and threw them at players after the team were relegated from Brazil's first division for the first time in their history.
The referee abandoned the game with some five minutes remaining shortly after Palmeiras' second goal condemned the home side to a 2-0 defeat.
Police fired percussion grenades as angry fans threw objects and fought on the terraces and officials decided it was not safe for the players to continue.
Many people had already left the Mineirao stadium before the end as scuffles broke out among fans furious at the club's plight.
The Belo Horizonte club had needed to win their last game of the season and hope that Ceara, the team that started the day two points above them in the table, lost away at Botafogo.
But a goal from Ze Rafael 13 minutes into the second half and a second from Dudu with six minutes remaining sealed Cruzeiro's fate.
Ceara drew 1-1 with Botafogo and ended the season on 39 points, three above Cruzeiro.
Although Cruzeiro started the season well, winning the Mineiro state championship, their results worsened after the directors were caught up in a corruption scandal that shook the club in May.
The upheaval affected the team and directors ended up hiring and firing four different coaches over the 38 games of the league season, with the final change coming last week.
They were relegated on Sunday along with CSA, Chapecoense and Avai.
Flamengo won the league by 16 points, although they lost 4-0 on Sunday to Santos, a surprise result that was their first defeat in 30 games stretching back to early August.
(Production: David Grip)
