Boca fans “dominate” Copacabana and party on All Souls’ Day
An ever-growing crowd of Boca Juniors fans gathers in Copacabana on the eve of the club’s game against Fluminense in the Libertadores da América final, which will take place on Saturday (4), at Maracanã.
According to tourists who were at the site, the largest volume of tourists coming in caravans for the departure began to arrive this Thursday (2), All Souls’ Day. Most were concentrated in front of the Rio Othon Palace, where security is reinforced. The group sang and displayed flags throughout the afternoon.
This Thursday, tricolor fans also gathered in front of the Fun Fest – at Posto 2. Both fans celebrated peacefully and there was no record of confusion, however, until 4:41 pm.
Traders complain about low consumption
Despite the large presence of Argentines on Copacabana Beach in recent days, traders in the region are not very satisfied.
According to workers interviewed by g1, the majority of Boca fans shop in markets and do not consume the goods sold on the beach.
“It’s weak. You can see that. They arrive in a large group, with coolers of beer, with 2 liters of soda and don’t spend anything else”, commented a seller of mate and curd cheese.
For Venezuelan Luiz Salgado, who hoped that the presence of the Argentines would save the working holiday, this was the last day he took his orange juice cart to Copacabana.
“I sell in the center of Rio. On a normal day there I take 10 bags of oranges and everything ends. Today the beach is crowded and I haven’t sold a single bag”, commented the seller.
“I’m not even coming here tomorrow. I’m going to stay in the center”, added Luiz.
Not even the stalls selling beer are a hit with Boca fans.
“It doesn’t even look like the beach is full,” said a seller.
For another trader, the economic difficulties that the neighboring country faces are the explanation for the low consumption of Argentines in Rio.
“They’re ‘all’ tough there. They came here without a hotel, without a ticket. Then they stay on the beach without spending anything. I already knew it wouldn’t be a good seller,” said trader Antônio Araújo.
Reinforcement at various points
The Government of Rio announced that policing in Rio will be reinforced at Maracanã and in other parts of the city before, during and after the final of the Copa Libertadores da América, which takes place this Saturday (4). Fluminense and Boca Juniors face each other at 5pm.
According to the Secretary of Military Police, Colonel Luiz Henrique Pires, the personnel will be distributed between the stadium and fan meeting points, such as Cinelândia, where there will be a big screen for those who cannot make it to the field, Terreirão do Samba and the Sambódromo.
The entire operation lasts until 6 am on Monday (6) and has a thousand civil police officers and 5 thousand military police officers distributed throughout the holiday. The Fire Department will also have reinforcements.
