Rio de Janeiro July 18 (IANS) Vasco da Gama have been ordered to play six home matches at a neutral venue after the death of a fan this month a Brazilian sports tribunal has ruled.
A panel of three judges said on Monday that Vasco were partly to blame for violent clashes between fans following Vasco s 1-0 defeat to Flamengo at the Sao Januario stadium in Brazil s Serie A football championship on July 8 reports Xinhua news agency.
Davi Rocha Lopes 27 died after being shot in the neck while two other supporters also suffered gunshot wounds.
Flamengo were fined 5 000 Brazilian reais (around $1 500) for the unruly behaviour of their fans the superior court of sports justice said in a statement.
Vasco and Flamengo are both expected to appeal.
The tragedy is the latest in a long list of violent episodes in Brazilian football.
At least 20 football fans have died in the country since 1997 because of violence at stadiums according to the Globo newspaper.
--IANS
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