Stone-throwing Attack Leaves Six Injured at Fortaleza
The Fortaleza bus was attacked with "bombs" and stones as it was leaving the stadium. The images disseminated by the club itself are devastating.
Six players from the Brazilian team Fortaleza, including Argentine defender Gonzalo Escobar, were injured on Wednesday night in the city of Recife in a stoning attack by fans of an opposing team, club sources reported.
The bus, carrying the players and coaching staff, was attacked with "bombs" and stones as it left the Arena de Pernambuco stadium after drawing with Sport, who played at home.
The team was quickly taken to the nearest hospital, where two of its members, goalkeeper João Ricardo and Escobar, received stitches due to cuts caused by the stones, Fortaleza reported in a statement released early Thursday morning.
Ricardo suffered a cut on his eyebrow, while Escobar sustained one on his mouth and another on his eyebrow, as well as a blow to the head for which he will undergo a CT scan, although the team reported that the Argentine is "fine" and conscious.
Full-back Dudu, defenders Titi and Brítez, and midfielder Lucas Sasha were also hit by glass fragments.
In videos shared by the club, which competes in the Brazilian league's top division, people can be seen crouching and talking on the phone, and several players with blood on their arms and faces.
Fortaleza CEO Marcelo Paz said he was "outraged" by what happened and assured that attacks like that did not "fit" in Brazilian football.
"What will the authorities do? What will football do?" Paz asked on social media, sharing images of Escobar lying on a hospital bed with bandages on his face.
Sport, on the other hand, "vehemently" condemned the attack in a statement, offered to assist authorities in the investigations, and said that the "absurd" acts of violence do not reflect the club's values.












