- The two teams will face each other at the Maracana Stadium on Saturday
- Images shared on social media showed dozens of fans involved in a mass brawl
- Major debates about Man United, Chelsea and Arsenal continue It all starts podcast
A Boca Juniors fan has reportedly been arrested and charged with throwing bottles at police after Copacabana Beach played host to a brawl between two groups of fans.
Supporters of Boca Juniors and Fluminense clashed on the beach in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, where a fight broke out with dozens of people present.
The two teams will face off in the city on Saturday in the Copa Libertadores final, with Juniors traveling across South America from Argentina to Brazil for the match.
According to Ioda Valley News, the atmosphere on the beach, which was being used as a ‘fan zone’, was friendly before the altercation and the police had to be involved.
Another Boca fan was reportedly arrested for kicking a dog and trying to attack another man.
According to reports, a fight broke out between Boca Juniors and Fluminense fans on Copacabana beach
Fans appeared to be enjoying their afternoons on the beach before the brawl broke out – there is no indication the people pictured were involved
Your browser does not support iframes.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show dozens of fans walking peacefully on the beach before a group of people ran from one end of the beach to the other.
Several people began to withdraw, but it is clear that fights are taking place with a number of people involved in physical altercations.
The end of the footage shows a number of emergency control vehicles present on the beach, with proceedings seemingly calming down eventually, although the gun police were also apparently involved.
It is not clear whether one group of fans attacked another group or whether the attack was targeted.
Boca Juniors supporters traveled from Argentina for the match against the Brazilian team – there is no indication that the people pictured were involved
Edinson Cavani (centre) could play for Boca, who are looking for their seventh title
Marcelo, meanwhile, is likely to play for Fluminense in the match in his home country of Brazil
The build-up to the match had already been marred with Boca players reportedly losing their luggage upon arrival in Brazil.
According to BNN, five suitcases were not loaded onto the team’s flight, causing major delays during the journey.
In Saturday’s final, held at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, Boca will attempt to win their seventh title, while Fluminense will be in the hunt for their first.
The competition is similar to the European Champions League tournament, but is played before the end of the domestic season in both Argentina and Brazil. Players like Edinson Cavani and Marcelo are expected to feature in the final.