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Intimidated, Corinthians Players Want to Leave the Team
02/04/2014 - 09h06
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BERNARDO ITRI
FROM PAINEL FC
RAFAEL VALENTE
FROM SÃO PAULO
The reaction of players to Saturday's invasion of the Corinthians training center may incite some of the club's athletes to leave.
Folha learned from players on the team that the violence by the group of fans has made the atheletes, including starters and reserves, want to leave Corinthians out of fear.
The players, some of whom had their possessions stolen and damaged on Saturday, say they are frightened by the situation. Given the chance to relive that experience, they have seriously set their minds to leaving the club.
Understanding from leaders of the Alvinegro squad is that the authorities from Corinthians should have been more vehement in their reactions after invasion.
After Saturday's invasion, the players told club directors that they did not want to play against Ponte Preta because they were frightened.
The wish of the club president Mario Gobbi and directors was the same and the club tried institutionally to postpone the game against Ponte Preta.
However, under contracts signed with the Federação Paulista (São Paulo Federation) and TV Globo, which holds the broadcast rights, the club could not refuse to play.
Directors also passed this information on Saturday to players, and team brass and athletes came to a consensus that Corinthians should get on the field.
President Mário Gobbi said yesterday that no athlete has expressed any desire to leave the club. "No player asked to leave. We're all emotionally shaken together. It was shocking for all of us," Gobbi stated.
However indignation from players over the invasion and the reaction of the board was significant yesterday.
"DEEP SORROW"
After the invasion, Gobbi said he has not had any more dialogue with fan club organizers.
"There is not the slightest intention of dialogue. Things have come to the point where any conversation is difficult. In football, you never say 'never', nor in life. But there isn't a climate for dialogue. Sorrows are deep", Gobbi said.
"The right to protest is sacred. What isn't constitutional is an invasion on property, injuries to third parties. This has never been done here", the president added.
Gobbi even asked the Corinthians' legal department to examine the possibility of the club prohibiting the use of team symbols by organized fan groups.
Corinthians must release the internal images from CT to police in order to help identify people who invaded and vandalized the place.
The invasion on CT by fans caused the destruction of two cars, a glass door and the theft of four telephones. Cars owned by Paulo André and Flavio Writes, Doctor Joaquim Grava's son, were broken. Three phones, one belonging to mid fielder Ramirez, and a radio were stolen.
Translated by STEVE HUGHES
Read the article in the original language
Danilo Verpa/Folhapress |
The faces of the players Wallace, Emerson, Romarinho, Douglas, Danilo, Fabio Santos and Cassio were ripped out |