World Cup 2014: Chile fans storm media centre at the Maracana before Spain game

Chile fans without tickets breached security and knocked down a wall in the media centre

Ossian Shine
Wednesday 18 June 2014 18:08 EDT
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Hundreds of Chile fans stormed the media centre at the Maracana stadium
Hundreds of Chile fans stormed the media centre at the Maracana stadium (Twitter)

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Some 200 Chilean soccer fans stormed the Maracana media centre around an hour before kick-off in the World Cup match against Spain on Wednesday, raising major concerns for Fifa and tournament organisers.

The fans charged through a security checkpoint before smashing down a glass door, witnesses say, and invading the working room.

They ran around the journalists' workplace looking for access to the stadium, before police were called.

A group of 30 were being held by security while others ran away.

"They stormed the gate and ran into the stadium. We stopped them," security guard Diego Guilhermede Souza Goncalves told Reuters.

The spectators were being held seated on the floor, while police took them away in groups.

At least one Chilean fan, a woman, was injured and taken outside in a wheelchair.

There was a lively atmosphere around the Maracana early on Wednesday, with thousands of red-shirted fans singing and chanting.

One group were drinking from a red wine bottle at 10 o'clock in the morning.

Chilean fans in the stadium were in high spirits, singing loudly as the players trotted out to warm up.

Chile, who won their opening group match against Australia 3-1, have high hopes for Wednesday's Group B game against a Spanish side thumped 5-1 by the Netherlands in their opener.

REUTERS

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