Extraordinary scenes broke out in the Brazilian top flight match between Criciúma and Corinthians on Saturday when the hometown mascot provoked visiting players.
Footage shows the Criciúma mascot – a tiger – being brought to the visiting fans on a stretcher for the first time. The mascot is then chased and even kicked by members of the Corinthians game team.
Corinthians eventually won 4-2 at the Heriberto Hülse Stadium, but only after difficult moments in the stands and on the field.
According to reports in Brazil, there was some scuffle in the stands between Corinthians fans on the away side at half-time. And while they were playing as reserves and members of the coaching team walked to the stands’ barriers to try to calm the situation, the tiger mascot was handed over.
After being pushed from behind, the mascot runs through the tunnel and celebrates with his arms outstretched, similar to Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘siu’ celebration.
You see Corinthians players continuing to protest with people from the home club afterwards. According to reports in Brazil, one of the ball boys was also shown a red card for his involvement in the confrontations.
Corinthians, who have Dutch striker Memphis Depay in their playing group, are eighth in the Brazilian top division, level with Bahia on points.
After Depay signed a two-year contract with the Brazilian team, Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman weighed in on the transfer and compared his situation to that of fellow striker Steven Bergwijn, who also left Europe, with the former Tottenham Hotspur player joining Al-Ittihad added. in Saudi Arabia.
“I disapproved of Steven Bergwijn’s move to Saudi Arabia, but things could be different at Memphis,” Koeman told reporters on Monday. “The level of competition in Brazil is different, so yes, he can still be part of the national team, but it depends on his fitness and whether he reaches his level.”
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