Corinthians condemns fan detention for criticizing Bolsonaro in the stands
Corinthians is the team that supports former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, jailed for corruption since April 2018 and Bolsonaro's political rival
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Leer en español: Corinthians condena detención de hincha por criticar a Bolsonaro en la grada
Corinthians players in a round of 16 games of the South American Cup at the Gran Parque Central stadium in Montevideo (Uruguay). EFE / Raúl Martínez
EFE
Corinthians said Tuesday that the temporary detention of a football fan for criticizing the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, during last Sunday's game against Palmeiras, is a "serious attack on individual liberties in the democratic state of law."
The São Paulo club strongly repudiated the arrest of the fan, Rogério Lemes Coelho, during the match against the green team at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, corresponding to the thirteenth day of the Brazilian Championship.
Corinthians "historically reiterates its commitment to democracy and the defense of the constitutional right of free demonstration," since they are exercised in a "civilized and non-violent manner," the entity said in a statement.
According to the Secretariat of Security of Sao Paulo, the police decided to act in this way to "preserve the physical integrity of the fan, who uttered words against" Bolsonaro, leader of the extreme right in Brazil and fervent fan of Palmeiras.
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The squad of Sao Paulo, one of the most popular in Brazil along with Flamengo, recalled that some of its leaders, including the president of the club (Andrés Navarro Sánchez), were already criticized by fans on other occasions.
Therefore, he considered the arrest of Lemes Coelho as "a serious attack on individual liberties in the democratic state of law."
The fan was arrested while the game was going by agents of the Military Police, responsible for stadium security, and transferred to a special room located inside the Corinthians Arena itself, where a "non-criminal" complaint was made. According to the authorities, Lemes Coelho was released before the end of the classic São Paulo, which ended with a 1-1 draw.
Corinthians is the team that supports former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, jailed for corruption since April 2018 and political rival of Bolsonaro.
