The Brazilian football community is in shock and mourning after the tragic death of Gabriela Anelli, a Palmeiras fan who was struck by a glass bottle outside a stadium. To honour her memory, a minute’s silence will be observed at matches in Brazil’s top-flight league.
The incident occurred during a brawl between Palmeiras and Flamengo fans outside the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo. Gabriela Anelli, 23, was in a queue when she was hit by a thrown bottle, resulting in a severe neck injury. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she sadly passed away two days later.
Her brother expressed gratitude for the support received and shared the devastating news on Instagram, stating that Gabriela had “gone to live with God in heaven.” Ednaldo Rodrigues, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), strongly condemned the incident and pledged to work with relevant authorities to prevent such “criminal and unjustifiable” acts from happening again.
As a mark of respect, a minute’s silence will be observed at all matches during the 15th round of the Brazilian championship, according to Rodrigues. He stressed that football should be a realm of passion, not a breeding ground for violence perpetrated by criminals.
During the altercation, the police faced attacks from glass bottles and had to employ pepper spray to restore order. Unfortunately, the spray affected the players inside the stadium, resulting in two interruptions in the first half due to their discomfort.
Several players, including Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, expressed their condolences and called for an end to violence in football. Jesus described the incident as a tragic day for Brazilian football and urged reflection and unity to combat such occurrences. Both Palmeiras and Flamengo issued statements expressing solidarity with Gabriela Anelli’s family and condemning the mindless violence that led to her untimely death.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the individual responsible for throwing the bottle has been apprehended and will face charges of intentional homicide. This devastating incident has sparked a wider conversation about fan safety and the urgent need to address violence within football stadiums.
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