Author: Amrit Santlani
Fluminense have released a statement condemning the violent attack on Botafogo’s bus ahead of their Copa Sudamericana quarter-final clash. The Botafogo delegation was attacked on their way to Rio de Janeiro International Airport ahead of their trip to Argentina.
Botafogo were scheduled to play the second leg of their quarter-final when a group of Fluminense fans attacked the traveling party. A stone was thrown at the Botafogo bus, hitting the window next to the seat where striker Carlos Alberto was sitting.
According to reports, the Fluminense fans welcomed the Botafogo delegation with a racket nicknamed “Aeroflu”. As soon as the bus carrying the players and coaching staff arrived near the airport, one of the fans threw a rock at the vehicle.
The incident occurred at 3:30 p.m. Brasília time. The stone smashed the window of the bus, but fortunately there wasn’t much harm done, only Carlos Alberto was hit by shards of glass from the window.
The exact moment the Fluminense fan hits the Botafogo bus.
🎥 | @geglobo pic.twitter.com/bJ4eXJDxa2
– Informa Fogo (@informafogo) August 29, 2023
While Fluminense insisted that there is no place for violence in soccer, Botafogo, in their statement, said that violence in any form should not be tolerated on or off the pitch.
“Fluminense FC regrets the violence practiced by fans against the Botafogo bus this afternoon, and expresses its total disapproval of any kind of violence in soccer,” says the Fluminense statement.
Botafogo traveled to Argentina as planned, but ended up losing the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana quarter-final with Nicolas Fernandez’s two goals giving Defensa a 2-1 victory.
Bruno Lage’s men will now face Flamengo, while attention turns to Serie A on Sunday, with the league leaders returning to their pitch at the Olympic Stadium.