Flamengo Copa Libertadores celebration in Rio de Janeiro ends in clashes with police
Hundreds of thousands of Flamengo fans celebrated the Copa Libertadores title in Rio de Janeiro Sunday, but the massive parade ended in confrontations between supporters and military police.
November 30, 2025 - 03:26 PM ET • 2 min read
A massive celebration marking Flamengo's Copa Libertadores victory ended in clashes between fans and military police in central Rio de Janeiro on Sunday afternoon, shortly after the team's parade concluded.
The celebration drew an estimated half a million fans to the streets, according to some media reports, to greet the players and coaching staff. The team had returned from Lima, Perú, where they defeated Palmeiras 1-0 in the final on Saturday to secure the club's fourth Copa Libertadores title.
The team delegation landed at Rio de Janeiro International Airport at 9:58 a.m. Sunday. The players waited for the coaching staff, who arrived later due to a delayed commercial flight. The team departed for the city center around 12:18 p.m., and the official caravan began near 1:00 p.m.
The champions traveled on an open-platform float, known as a trio elétrico, following a route that included Avenida Presidente Vargas and the Monumento a Zumbi dos Palmares. Authorities had closed several streets since the morning to accommodate the event, which saw fans dressed in the club's red and black colors.
At the start of the caravan, more than 250,000 fans were reported present, with the total crowd size later estimated by some media outlets at 500,000 people.
The festive atmosphere turned chaotic in the afternoon after the trio elétrico finished its route on Rua Primeiro de Março. Confrontations erupted between supporters and Military Police (PM) near Avenida Presidente Wilson.
The unrest began when police established a cordon of isolation to allow buses to safely remove the athletes from the area. Sources reported that part of the crowd became trapped behind the barriers and attempted to breach the blockade, resulting in structures being knocked down.
Police responded by using non-lethal weapons, including pepper spray and rubber bullets, to disperse the large crowd. The tumult lasted only a few minutes.
At least two individuals were transported away on stretchers, and injuries were reported among those attempting to flee the scene. Police officials said the measures adopted were intended solely to maintain the integrity and ensure the safety of all present.