BRAZIL, — Video of a Brazilian police officer shooting a soccer player with a rubber bullet after a match has garnered millions of views since the incident happened on Wednesday night.
According to Brazilian newspaper Globo, the shooting happened after a regional club match between Grêmio Esportivo Anápolis and Centro Oeste, where Centro took home a 2-1 victory and an altercation between the two clubs ensued.
During the scuffle between the two teams on the pitch, a police officer shot a rubber bullet at Grêmio Anápolis goalkeeper Ramón Souza. The incident was captured on video, which has been viewed millions of times on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Warning: The video below is graphic. Viewer discretion is advised.
Grêmio Anápolis posted its own statement to Instagram on Thursday, sharing photos from the scene as Souza received medical attention, while also condemning the officer's actions.
"The Annapolis Guild comes to the public to repudiate the unfortunate, ridiculous and revolting event, at the Jonas Duarte Stadium, this Wednesday night (July 10). After the end of the match against the Central West team, our goalkeeper Ramón Souza was cowardly hit by a rubber bullet, carried out by an unprepared policeman from the Specialized Policing Company (CPE). A horrible, unbelievable and criminal act by someone who should care about the safety and integrity of the people who were there at the Jonas Duarte Stadium. The GEA (Grêmio Anápolis) informs that it will take appropriate measures, so that the person responsible is punished and that justice is served, so that this CRIMINAL act does not go unpunished."
In an update to the initial statement, the club said Souza was not at risk of losing his life or losing his leg.
In a statement to Globo, the press office of the Military Police of the State of Goiás reported that "it was immediately determined to open an administrative procedure to investigate the facts with due rigor" and that the PM "reaffirms its commitment to complying with the law, and reiterates that it does not condone any misconduct practiced by its members."
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