The Semi-final of one of Brazil’s premium youth tournaments ended in infamy as two annoyed Sao Paulo hooligans entered the pitch in the dying seconds of the match with a clear intention of attacking players of the visiting team Palmeiras.😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲17 year old #SaoPaulo striker Caio restrains a fan who ran onto the pitch with a knife to confront #Palmieras players. @CSXSports #Brazil #Football #Knife #CSXSports #Caio pic.twitter.com/Taldm67wiS— CSX Sports (@CSXSports) January 23, 2022 In the haze that followed, it was the home players who intervened to protect their rivals from mindless hooligans before the official security could get to the pitch. And after a few seconds, TV cameras showed the match referee holding a knife that was thrown at the players and thankfully missed.At first, it was thought that one of the two vandals who raced onto the turf was holding the blade, but it was actually thrown from the Arena Barueri stands among many other projectiles. Sunday, 22.00: (1.90) Altos (3.30) Alagoinhas (4.00)Cesar Saad, delegate of Brazilian Commission for Repression of Crimes and Intolerance in Sport told O Globo that video footage of the incident has been thoroughly analysed.”In the added time of the match, two fans invaded the field. One of them went up and physically attacked a Palmeiras player, while the second fan was contained by Sao Paulo players. At the same time, some objects were thrown into the field. We tried to identify images from the press and fans, the stadium cameras and after a lot of analysis, listening to referees and athletes, we realized that along with the other objects, a knife was lying on the grass.”It has to be said that Sao Paulo players did their club justice by jumping to protect their opponents in such a scary moment, but it’s the so-called supporters who really should think about the way they’re damaging the reputation of one of South America’s biggest clubs.Invadiram o gramado da Arena Barueri. Aí a TV mostra UMA FACA na mão do árbitro. Sem palavras. Só vejam… #Copinha2022 pic.twitter.com/fq8zdNjBIg— Goleada Info (@goleada_info) January 23, 2022 Thankfully, this time no blood was spilt, but the Brazilian authorities must do something to prevent similar incidents from taking place – before it’s too late.COPA SAO PAULO DE JUNIORESSemi-finalSaturdaySao Paulo U20 – Palmeiras U20 0-1 (0-1)/Giovani 4/Santos U20 – America MG U20 3-0 (1-0)/Barbosa 15, 54, Weslley 71/FinalTuesday22.00: Santos U20 – Palmeiras U20
