Argentina fan involved in police violence during bloody Maracana clash claims officers ‘took photos with the wounded like WAR TROPHIES’ during violent World Cup qualifier in Brazil

• Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro after delay due to trouble in the stands
• How things unravelled at the Maracana on a shocking night: the timeline 
• I was threatened with being STABBED at an U12’s game – former ref tells IAKO

An Argentina fan involved in police violence at the Maracana stadium has alleged that officers later posed with those wounded and their x-rays ‘like trophies of war’ after the bloody clash that preceded the Albiceleste’s 1-0 victory against Brazil. 

The two sides met in their latest round of World Cup qualifiers at the storied ground, but match action was delayed by nearly half-an-hour as fans scrapped with one another in chaotic scenes during the national anthems. 

It was unclear what sparked the brawl between the sets of fans of the rival nations, but when police intevened the away fans were charged by officers with batons, leaving some fans cut or bleeding, and forcing others to flee with the stands. 

Argentina captain Lionel Messi led his players into the dressing room – after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez first attempted to grab a policeman’s baton in protest – in a bid to calm tensions, with kick-off delayed by 27 minutes. 

But one Argentina fan who was taken to a hospital inside the Maracana has accused the police at the stadium of revelling in the violence, and continuing their intimidation on injured victims away from the stands. 

Argentina’s 1-0 victory against Brazil was marred by scenes of violence between police and fans at the Maracana

One fan, Eugenio, was taken away on a stretcher after receiving a head wound before kick-off

As he shared his story with reporters, the bandage covering his eight stitches was visible

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Eugenio, who was taken away on a stretcher and later received eight stitches on a head wound, claimed the officers involved had tried to ‘beat them to death’, and that despite being victimised, he was later tried for inciting violence. 

‘We entered calmly until a commotion began between Brazilians and Argentines over a fight, and from one moment to the next a police cordon entered and didn’t begin to separate (us), but instead began to beat us to death,’ Eugenio recounted to TyC Sports. 

‘In my case, I did not fight nor did I hit anyone, I fell and hit my head against one of the posts, and from there I don’t remember anything else.

‘I got up from the stretcher inside the Maracana, in a hospital. I never left the Maracana. My hands were handcuffed and my head was full of blood, as were my eyes. 

‘I was detained and delayed, admitted to this kind of room they have for recovery. The nurse told the police officer that he had to suture me. They were guys who only went to hit me.’

The Albiceleste fan was then taken to the Maracana’s internal court – known as Juizado Especial Criminal, or Jecrim, meaning special criminal court –  which deals with and rules on transgressions which take place within the stadium. 

The courts are commonly found at big stadiums in Brazil, such as Morumbi stadium in Sao Paolo, and may see fans fined for minor rule-breaking, or receive banning orders, or even more significant punishments for crimes including hate crimes. 

As well as judges, prosecutors, and lawyers, there were personnel from the Argentine consulate in attendance too, as there had been when the stadium hosted the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate. 

Eugenio reserved praise for his representatives for helping him in the thick of a complicated situation, but was still forced to pay a fine of 200 reals (£32) before being released. 

‘I left at 4 in the morning with the other kids who were delayed, there were eight of us in total. There was one with a broken arm,’ he continued. 

‘The same police officers who beat us took photos with the x-rays or selfies with us, like trophies of war. They were happy and felt that they were heroes. 

‘Thanks to the people from the Argentine Consulate who were there, we did not charge in there because otherwise we were going to have a really bad time. There we waited for the judge and a lawyer to arrive. It is a situation that makes you angry, we went to just watch a game. 

‘They judged us collectively, as if we confronted the police or started a war in there. That is wrong, I don’t know why,’ Eugenio continued. ‘I live here (in Rio), I wanted to return home. I paid and sent the receipt. 

Fans were forced to try and escape the stands to avoid clashing with away support or the charging officers

Argentina supporters were left bloodied by raised police batons which appeared to do little to nullify any conflict

Lionel Messi shared his frustrations on social media as he decried the police ‘repression’ of Albiceleste fans

‘But we had no other option. Now I want to take action against the state or I don’t know against whom, because you feel alone and you don’t know what you can do.’

Messi decried the police ‘repression’ against Argentina fans and called back to the Libertaores final in a social media post shared after the match. 

The 36-year-old wrote: ‘Great victory in the Maracana although it will be marked by the repression of the Argentinians once again in Brazil. 

‘This can’t be tolerated it’s insane and it needs to end now!!’

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