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Bolivian boy killed by flare allegedly launched by Corinthians fans Bolivian boy killed by flare allegedly launched by Corinthians fans
(about 2 hours later)
A 14-year-old Bolivian boy was killed by a flare allegedly launched by Corinthians fans during a Copa Libertadores match in Oruro, according to reports in Brazil and Bolivia. A 14-year-old Bolivian boy has been killed by a flare allegedly launched by Corinthians fans during a Copa Libertadores match in Oruro.
The incident, in which the boy was hit in the eye and died almost instantly, occurred during a 1-1 draw between Bolivia's San Jose and the Copa Libertadores holders and world club champions Corinthians on Wednesday night. The incident, in which the boy was hit in the eye and died almost instantly, occurred during a 1-1 draw between Bolivia's San Jose and the Brazilian world club champions Corinthians on Wednesday night.
Doctor José Maria Vargas told local media at the Hospital Obrero in Oruro: "There was a loss of brain matter as the projectile, a plastic tube, penetrated the skull. Due to this, death was immediate."Doctor José Maria Vargas told local media at the Hospital Obrero in Oruro: "There was a loss of brain matter as the projectile, a plastic tube, penetrated the skull. Due to this, death was immediate."
A dozen Corinthians supporters identified by Bolivian police were arrested and a spokesman for San Jose said a criminal investigation would be opened, according to the match broadcasters Fox Sports. A dozen Corinthians supporters identified by Bolivian police were arrested and a spokesman for San Jose said a criminal investigation would be opened.
Reports say many local fans left the Jesus Bermudez stadium in tears after the incident, while others turned on the visitors, chanting "murderers" and targeting Corinthians officials who were escorted away by police. The boy, identified as Kevin Beltran, a San Jose fan, was hit by the flare minutes after Corinthians took an early lead. Despite the incident occurring early in the match, play continued and San Jose later equalised.
Local reports said many fans near the incident left the Jesús Bermudez Stadium in tears, while others turned on the visitors, chanting "murderers" and targeting Corinthians officials who were escorted away by police.
Sources said the remains of the flare did not correspond to the kind seen in Bolivia where football hooligans or demonstrators use carton fireworks with no plastic parts, suggesting it may have been brought into the country.
At the end of the 1-1 draw the Corinthians coach, Tite, told reporters he would gladly exchange their Club World Cup win over Chelsea last December to bring the boy back.At the end of the 1-1 draw the Corinthians coach, Tite, told reporters he would gladly exchange their Club World Cup win over Chelsea last December to bring the boy back.
He said: "I know that this won't take any of the pain away from the family but I would swap the world championship for the life of the child. I'm so sorry about what happened tonight."He said: "I know that this won't take any of the pain away from the family but I would swap the world championship for the life of the child. I'm so sorry about what happened tonight."
Ending the press conference early, he said: "We can't talk about football, my players and I feel the same. We couldn't utter a word in the dressing room. I didn't want to be here, what happened is too heavy to be able to talk of football."Ending the press conference early, he said: "We can't talk about football, my players and I feel the same. We couldn't utter a word in the dressing room. I didn't want to be here, what happened is too heavy to be able to talk of football."
The club's director of football, Edu Gaspar, later gave an emotional interview to reporters, saying: "There is no greater pain in the world than this. How we can we help the family at a time like this? We have to do anything we can.The club's director of football, Edu Gaspar, later gave an emotional interview to reporters, saying: "There is no greater pain in the world than this. How we can we help the family at a time like this? We have to do anything we can.
"When it happened people were swearing at us and so we had to get out of the area. Our journey home will be tough. There is not much more I can say now other than to express our regret.""When it happened people were swearing at us and so we had to get out of the area. Our journey home will be tough. There is not much more I can say now other than to express our regret."
The South American football body Conmebol, whose headquarters are in Paraguay's capital Asunción, said they were awaiting their match delegate's report before making a statement on the incident.