Around 100,000 Argentines in Rio de Janeiro: Boca plays Libertadores final, Brazilian authorities put to the test

(Patria) - Six Argentine and one Brazilian fan were arrested after a brawl between fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro ahead of Saturday's Copa Libertadores final between Fluminense and Boca Juniors.

Brazilian and Argentine media, each from their own perspective, report that a conflict broke out on Copacabana near the fan zone between fans of Boca Juniors and Fluminense.

Local media claim that Boca fans are responsible for the violence, while Boca fans told Argentine media that Fluminense fans arrived at the beach to carry out an organized attack.

Police immediately responded using tear gas and rubber bullets, and the heated situation calmed down very quickly. Six Argentine and one Brazilian fan were arrested, and four people sought medical assistance.

Some media outlets also report that the atmosphere on the beach, which is used as a Fan zone, has been mostly peaceful and friendly.

Bad scenes in Rio de Janeiro, Boca Juniors fans were having a fun time with their families at the beach in fre zone and then out of nowhere Fluminense fans ambushed and attacked them.

The Brazilian police are letting Fluminense fans do whatever they want pic.twitter.com/ooJMOn0K9u

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) November 2, 2023

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) called on fans of Boca Juniors and Fluminense to “share moments of joy and celebration that our football provides us.”

“The values of the sport we love most should encourage peaceful and harmonious behavior. Therefore, we reject any violent and racist acts that may occur in the context of the final,” CONMEBOL stated.

The 64th Copa Libertadores final, the South American equivalent of the Champions League, will be played at the Maracanã tonight at 9 PM. On opposite sides will be Brazil's Fluminense and Argentina's Boca Juniors.

Boca Juniors fans are enjoying themselves on Copacabana Beach ahead of the Copa Libertadores final at Maracanã

Boca Juniors vs Fluminense
5pm local time, 8pm UK time (BBC3) pic.twitter.com/1mlQULpDXd

— Tears at La Bombonera (@BomboneraTears) November 3, 2023

Despite the fact that Boca fans are entitled to 20,000 tickets, more than 100,000 fans of the Argentine giant are expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro, causing headaches for local authorities and police.

For Boca, this will be their 12th final, and so far they have won six times (1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007). Boca now has the opportunity to equal Independiente's record of seven Copa Libertadores titles.

Fluminense, in their only final so far, lost on penalties in 2008 to Ecuador's LDU from Quito.