The Public Ministry of the State of São Paulo (MP-SP) promises to try to intervene in the holding of one of the games of the 22nd round of the Brazilian Championship. The body wants the postponement of the classic between Corinthians x Palmeiras, scheduled for this Sunday (3). The request is due to concerns about possible clashes between fans of the capital’s big three (Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo), since on the same day Tricolor Paulista faces Coritiba, in Morumbi.
While the Derbi Paulista is scheduled for 4 pm (Brasília time) this Sunday (3), the match between São Paulo and Coritiba takes place at 8:30 pm (Brasília time) on the same day. With this, it is estimated that at least 70,000 Corinthians fans (the classic will have a single crowd) and tricolor fans will be able to use the train, subway and bus at the same time.
In an interview with ‘ESPN’, Paulo Castilho, a member of the Permanent Commission to Combat Violence in Football in São Paulo, drew attention to the risks that fans run due to the aforementioned games.
“It is temerity. We’re going to have 50,000 Corinthians leaving the Arena. And about 40,000 São Paulo go to Morumbi. The danger of confrontation is very clear”, highlighted Paulo.
Roberto Bacal, chairman of the commission, sent a letter to the Paulista Football Federation (FPF), Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Military Police, pointing out this “high risk” with the two matches close on schedule.
Check out FPF’s response
“In this sense, the FPF, the Brazilian Football Confederation, this D. Public Ministry, and the 2nd Shock Police Battalion carried out negotiations in order to find an alternative solution to satisfy the needs of all parties, however, on an exceptional basis, the match between Corinthians and Palmeiras will not be subject to change, which is why we request your usual services. in guaranteeing the safety and maintenance of order for the fans in the sports venues in question”.
CBF should not accept request
So far, the CBF has not taken a position on the matter. However, the organization is reluctant to change the dates, since São Paulo has an appointment scheduled this Thursday (31), against LDU, for the quarterfinals of the Copa Sudamericana. Thus, Tricolor could not play on Saturday (2), for example, as there would be no time to prepare Dorival Júnior’s team.
The confederation also does not indicate that it will change the date of the classic between Corinthians x Palmeiras. Internally, the feeling is that the proximity of the duel and the tight schedule make a possible relocation difficult.
It is worth remembering that Corinthians entered the field last Tuesday (29), also for the Sul-Americana. In La Plata (Argentina), Timão was defeated by 1-0 by Estudiantes, but won on penalties and advanced to the continental semifinal. The trend
Positioning of the Military Police
The São Paulo Military Police are also very concerned about the holding of the Corinthians, Palmeiras and São Paulo games on the same day. In a document sent to the MP, the PM recalled that this same Sunday (3) other events in the city will also require considerable security personnel. At 12:00, Allianz Parque will host the Super Cup final pioneer, the main floodplain tournament in São Paulo. At the Interlagos circuit, the The Townmusic festival that will attract thousands of fans.
Still according to the PM, the great danger does not live inside the stadiums, but outside them. The security agents’ main concern is meetings between rival fans in train and subway stations throughout São Paulo, as well as possible clashes in neighborhoods further away from the arenas.