Brazilian club Gremio is investigating after a section of fans invaded the pitch and captured destroying the video assistant referee (VAR) equipment in Porto Alegre on Sunday.
Gremio who were hosting Palmeiras in the Brazilian championship were leading 1-0 and the home fans were enraged at the VAR system after Palmeiras’ equalizer and some stormed the pitch in anger thereby vandalising the review system.
Three supporters broke the monitor, its protective casing, and ripped off wires feeding into the set in the game the homeside lost 3-1.
Gremio said on Monday in a statement it “does not agree with the acts committed by a small portion of the fans in attendance to yesterday’s match.” It added it was cooperating with police and considering banning the guilty supporters from its home matches.
Outside the stadium, Gremio fans also clashed with police after the match.The Brazilian Football Confederation has yet to comment on the incidents at Arena do Grêmio.
The country’s sports court has already forced other clubs to play in empty stadiums for up to 10 matches following previous field invasions by fans.
"This will be investigated," Piacente told O Globo. "The intention is that Gremio will lose their home rights."
The crowd trouble at the modern Gremio arena occurred even though stadiums in Brazil are still only allowing a limited number of fans due to concerns about the spread of Covid-19.
Gremio are 19th in the 20-team league and in relegation trouble - the bottom four go down and they are seven points adrift, albeit with games in hand.