Pacaembu chaos that scarred Corinthians and reshaped Brazilian football, 20 years on | OneFootball

On 4 May 2006 at Pacaembu, Corinthians suffered one of their bleakest nights, dumped out of the Libertadores by River Plate. The match was halted at 37 minutes of the second half after an attempted pitch invasion as River made it 3-1.

According to Globo.com, the fallout reshaped policing and prosecutorial tactics at football in São Paulo. About 30 people were treated at the stadium’s medical post.

Corinthians had lost the first leg 3-2 in Buenos Aires. Back home they led through Nilmar, Dyego Coelho’s own goal levelled it, then Gonzalo Higuaín scored twice, the second on 36 minutes, to seal River’s turnaround.

Police commander Tenente Alexandre Vilariço said officers moved to the fence as fans tried to force a gate and used light and sound munitions and baton charges. He admitted fear and reported injuries without serious cases.

Then state prosecutor Paulo Castilho viewed the night as a watershed, saying it drove designated sections for organised groups, a cut in away allocations to 5 percent and, later, single-fanbase derbies. He said agencies began full preparatory meetings for every match and drew on the Taylor Report.

Coach Ademar Braga labelled the exit a catastrophe, arguing Coelho’s own goal changed the game, and said the MSI-backed squad ranked among his best. Defender Betão recalled players huddling by the tunnel, some leaving in police cars, and the bus departing after three or four am.

Source: Globo.com