Cruzeiro fans ambushed by Palmeiras fans: one dead and 17 injured

In the early hours of Sunday, October 27, a violent confrontation between fans of the Palmeiras and Cruzeiro football teams was recorded on the Fernão Dias road, in Mairiporã, Greater São Paulo. The ambush, which occurred near a toll booth, left a tragic outcome: a Cruzeiro fan, identified as José Victor Miranda, lost his life, and 17 people were injured.

Authorities reported that the attack was carried out by eight people linked to the organized Mancha Alviverde fan group, who ambushed Cruzeiro supporters.

The Civil Police identified three of these suspects as leaders of Mancha Alviverde. According to the Public Security Secretariat (SSP), the Police Department for the Repression of Sports Intolerance Crimes (DRADE) continues to investigate the events and review videos from security cameras and social networks to identify those responsible.

During the attack, the vehicles of Cruzeiro fans, known as the Blue Mafia, were vandalized. One of the buses ended up set on fire, causing fatal burns to José Victor Miranda, 30, who was inside the vehicle. An expert report will officially determine the cause of death.

The consequences of the confrontation left 14 fans injured who were taken to the Anjo Gabriel Hospital, in Mairiporã, and three more people received care at a hospital in Franco da Rocha. Currently, one of the victims remains hospitalized, while the others have already been discharged.

The investigation is exploring whether this attack could have been a retaliation for a confrontation between the same fans on September 29, 2022, where members of Máfia Azul attacked Mancha Alviverde, leaving four people shot and ten injured. The rivalry between these groups has more than 30 years of history, dating back to 1988, when a member of Mancha was killed in front of the Palmeiras stadium, which caused deep animosity between the two fan groups.

Meanwhile, images recorded by Palmeiras fans themselves are circulating on social media, where the ambush of Cruzeiro fans can be seen. The Federal Highway Police (PRF) reported that the incident occurred around 5:20 a.m. at kilometer 65 of the highway, while Cruzeiro fans were returning from Curitiba and Palmeiras fans were heading to Belo Horizonte after watching their teams' matches in the Brazilian Championship.

The deputy of the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) of São Paulo, through the Special Action Group to Fight Organized Crime (Gaeco), announced that he will investigate the members of these groups under the approach of "criminal factions" to clarify the acts of violence within the scope of the General Law of Sport. The case has been registered as homicide, arson, criminal association, bodily injury and violent disturbances.