Violent clashes in Rio de Janeiro continue as police fire at Fluminense ultras ahead of Libertadores final showdown with Boca Juniors

• Fluminense and Boca Juniors are set to go head-to-head in the Libertadores final
• Tensions have been rising in build-up and police fired at fans hours before match
• Big debates on Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal on It’s All Kicking Off podcast 

Fluminense ultras clashed with police in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Libertadores showdown with Boca Juniors. 

The final of South American club football’s premier competition is set to be played at 8pm Saturday night GMT, at the iconic Maracana stadium. 

Tension have been rising in the build-up to the match and violent clashes continued hours before kick-off.  

Videos of the incident, which took place in streets close to the Stadium, have emerged and it appeared to show police firing at Fluminense ultras. 

The clash required police to wear full riot gear as they were attacked by the ultras who were not sighted in the footage. 

Fluminense ultras clashed with police in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the Libertadores final

Police, who were in riot gear, formed a line and appeared to be seen firing back at fans 

Some Fluminense were seen running back to safety as the scrambled to get out of firing line

Your browser does not support iframes.

Police then formed two lines as they fired back, with other Fluminense fans seen running back to safety and covering their noses. 

The latest incident comes after armed police fired rubber bullets and threw tear gas at Boca Juniors fans on Copacabana beach on Thursday. 

Despite Fluminense being Rio-based, there has been a huge influx of Boca fans with some 100,000 Xeneize supporters overrunning the Brazilian city in the build-up to the clash, hoping to see their side win a seventh Copa Libertadores title.

CONMEBOL themselves – the governing body for South American football – released a statement condemning the violence between fan groups, as well as issuing a call for supporters to ‘share together the moments of joy and celebration’.

The Libratodes final will see Boca bid to try and win their seventh title, with Fluminense chasing their first.

The competition is similar to Europe’s Champions League tournament, but is played before the end of the domestic season in both Argentina and Brazil. The likes of Edinson Cavani and Marcelo are expected to feature in the final.

The final of South American club football’s premier competition will played at Maracana

Boca Juniors fans travelled in their thousands in hopes of seeing their team claim glory 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Source: Read Full Article