Police Lock Fans in Sao Paulo Stadium Amid Fights

Brazilian police locked soccer fans inside of a Sao Paolo stadium for 20 minutes on Wednesday, after a fight broke out between supporters of the home team and those of Ecuador’s Barcelona Sporting Club, BSC.

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The fans began fighting immediately after BSC defeated Santos 1-0 during a Copa Libertadores match, forcing police to lock the gates of Vila Belmiro stadium.

Police fired percussion grenades to disperse the crowds, as seen in video footage released by Globo. 

Globo also reported that fans inside the stadium attempted to get into the Santos dressing room after the quarter-final defeat to BSC.

BSC won the two-legged tie 2-1 after a 1-1 draw in Guayaquil last week and are set to face off against Brazil’s Gremio in the semi-finals next month.

The Ecuadorean team hasn’t made it to the semifinals of Copa Libertadores since 1998.