Cruzeiro fans held a protest this Saturday morning (26), in front of Toca da Raposa 2. The demonstration, called by Mafia Azul, the biggest organized crowd in Celeste, was motivated by the bad phase of the team from Minas Gerais, which won only two of their final 16 games of the season.
The protest takes place the day before the match between Grêmio and Cruzeiro, which will take place this Sunday (27), at 7 pm, at the Arena do Grêmio, in Porto Alegre. The match is valid for the 21st round of the Brasileirão. If they fail to win, Cruzeiro can finish the round just one point above the relegation zone for Série B.
A large number of Cruzeiro fans, both organized and “ordinary” fans, attended the protest, which was peaceful and had center forward Gilberto as its main target. The striker, who is going through a bad phase and scored only six goals in 30 games in 2023, aroused the wrath of Cruzeiro fans after losing the ball that resulted in the equalizing goal for Corinthians when the lights went out last Saturday (19). ), among people from Minas Gerais and São Paulo, in the Mineirão.
— Ah, how nice it would be if Gilberto went back to Bahia.
Cruzeiro fans in protest at Toca da Raposa 2, this Saturday (26)
Striker Gilberto wholesale
« Ah how good it would be if Gilberto returned to Bahia », sing the fans pic.twitter.com/MGqSpCq5zB
— Maic Costa (@omaiccosta) August 26, 2023
In addition to Gilberto, midfielder Nikão was one of the players charged by the crowd. The heavenly directorate was also criticized. Ronaldo Fenômeno, owner of SAF do Cruzeiro, was quoted in a song.
— Hey, Ronaldo has money but he doesn’t buy a player.
Cruzeiro fans during protest
« Ronaldo has money but he doesn’t buy a player ». Left over for the owner of SAF do Cruzeiro pic.twitter.com/Dr7nqass2H
— Maic Costa (@omaiccosta) August 26, 2023
The protest was scheduled for 9:30 am, 30 minutes before the scheduled time for Cruzeiro training this Saturday. Even with the crowd arriving before the players, no athlete passed through the gate at Toca 2, where the Cruzeiro crowd gathered.
No Cruzeiro player or official went to meet the fans, a fact that was demanded by those present, who asked for “satisfaction” for the bad moment of the team. The moment when players and fans were closest was during the departure of the bus that took the celestial delegation to Confins Airport, from where Raposa took a flight to Porto Alegre.
During the passage of the bus, which was escorted by the Military Police, the chorus for better results grew. Still, there was no stopping for dialogue.
Leaders of the fans stated that the charges started to happen with greater intensity from now on and promised to receive the players at Confins Airport, for more charges, in case of defeat by Grêmio in the match this Sunday (27).
Watch videos of the protest by Cruzeiro fans
PROTEST
Cruzeiro fans hold a protest against the bad moment of the team, which won two of its last 15 games. Cruzeirenses begin to gather in front of the main gate of Toca da Raposa 2. There is training scheduled for 10 am. pic.twitter.com/bhM2rPEHN3
— Maic Costa (@omaiccosta) August 26, 2023
Gilberto is left out of the related
Striker Gilberto, the main target of Cruzeiro fans in recent days, was not listed to face Grêmio. The number 99 shirt is in Belo Horizonte and will accompany his teammates on TV.
Among those related, the return of Mateus Vital and William stands out, who had suffered injuries in the match against Palmeiras, valid for the 19th round of the Brasileirão. Midfielder Ian Luccas was left out of Pepa’s squad for having suffered trauma to his right ankle.
Midfielder Ian Luccas suffered trauma to his right ankle during training at Toca II, and is unavailable for the match against Grêmio.
— Cruise (@Cruzeiro) August 26, 2023
Next matches for Cruzeiro in the Brasileirão
Grêmio x Cruzeiro changes schedule
The match between Grêmio and Cruzeiro will no longer take place at 4 pm. The game, which will take place this Sunday (27), was rescheduled for 19h. The confrontation is valid for the 21st round of the Brasileirão and will be played at Arena do Grêmio. Living a bad moment in the season, Pepa’s team knows they need to win to stay away from the relegation zone.
TIME CHANGE
Grêmio and Cruzeiro will no longer take place at 4 pm. The match, which will be held on Sunday (27), was rescheduled for 19h. The game, valid for the 21st round of the Brasileirão, will be played at Arena do Grêmio.
Staff Images/Cruise pic.twitter.com/lUf7HA4dmA
— Maic Costa (@omaiccosta) August 22, 2023