SAO PAULO, Feb 11 (AFP): Brazilians famously love football. But sometimes fanaticism goes overboard and violence results, as recent outbreaks of hooliganism and a fan attack on players attest.
Last December saw one of the worst incidents of hooliganism in years when fans of Atletico Paraense clashed with visitors Vasco da Gama.
Television footage showing fans attacking each other flashed round the world, focusing on one bloodied man being mercilessly kicked in the body and head.
The December violence was all the more shocking, occurring just six months before Brazil stages the World Cup.
President Dilma Rousseff reacted sternly by insisting Brazil would not tolerate such behaviour.
But last weekend, Brazilian fans were in the news for all the wrong reasons once again after dozens of Corinthians supporters invaded the club's training complex and attacked players.
They threatened to break the legs of at least two players and grabbed Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero around the neck.
Former AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato, one of those targeted for poor recent form, promptly left the club Wednesday to join Sao Paulo with Jadson going the other way.
Brazilian 'ultras'-hardcore fans-may not have the reputation of English hooligans of yesteryear or Argentina's feared "barrasbravas."
Yet football violence directly cost a reported 30 lives last year in the giant country and for hardline supporters such incidents come with the territory.
"Fighting is a consequence-of having to defend our colours," says one Corinthians fan, Alan Mateos, 25.
Mateos is a veteran member of the club's "Gavioes da Fiel" (hawks of the faithful) supporters' group which numbers more than 100,000, one of Brazil's biggest fan organisations.
Alan is easily recognisable with his bare chest and a body covered with tattoed slogans and club badges.
On the terraces they make their intimidating, high-adrenaline presence felt amid a torrent of drum beating and chanting-insults of rivals to the fore.
"Defending Corinthians is our passion. We are always there, at every match," says Gavioes' 'chairman' Wagner da Costa.
Asked if he expects to see fan violence during the World Cup he told AFP flatly: "We are 'Corinthians' before Brazilians."
