José Victor Miranda, 30, was a motorcycle courier, father of a seven-year-old boy, and “a good guy”, according to his cousin, Camila Vieira, 36. He was the Cruzeiro fan killed in an ambush by Palmeiras fans on the Fernão Dias highway , in São Paulo, in the early hours of this Sunday (27).
The victim lived in Sete Lagoas, in the southeast region of Minas Gerais, and left almost every commitment, except work, to follow his favorite team throughout Brazil. Whenever he went to the stadiums, he did so with the organized Mafia Azul fans, of which he was one of the leaders.
Two months ago, he took his son to a Cruzeiro game for the first time, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte. According to family members, it was one of the most emotional moments of his life.
Everyone close to him was concerned about the young man’s involvement with organized fans. He had already reported threats received on social media. His father asked him to leave the group.
José Victor died around 5am this Sunday, at km 65 of the Fernão Dias highway, in Mairiporã, metropolitan region of São Paulo, in a fight between Cruzeiro and Palmeiras fans. At least 20 other individuals were injured.
According to the PRF, seven people suffered head trauma and one was shot in the abdomen, but there is no risk of death. The injured — all Cruzeiro fans — were taken to Franco da Rocha and Anjo Gabriel hospitals, in Mairiporã. The attackers fled before the police arrived. So far, no one has been arrested.
The confrontation involved 120 people. The Blue Mafia bus (Cruzeiro) was intercepted by Mancha Verde (Palmeiras). This attack, which took place towards Belo Horizonte, was a response to a confrontation between them that took place in September 2022, on the same highway, but on Minas Gerais soil. On that occasion, among those attacked was the current president of Mancha, Jorge Luis.
In this Sunday’s ambush, Cruzeiro fans were returning from a game against Athletico Paranaense, in Curitiba. Palmeiras had played against Fortaleza, in the capital of São Paulo.
Rena Bohus, lawyer for the Cruzeiro fans, said that they were sleeping at the time of the attack carried out by Mancha Verde. “The rival fans threw nails on the road and when the bus stopped they threw Molotov cocktails, firecrackers and several bombs. They invaded the bus with sticks and attacked people.
The São Paulo Public Ministry called the attack “savagery” and stated that it will treat Mancha Verde as a criminal organization. “Such an episode is unacceptable and represents a serious affront to public security and peaceful coexistence in our society”, states the note. The Attorney General’s Office ordered Gaeco (Special Action Group to Combat Organized Crime) to participate in the investigations.
The Public Ministry of Minas Gerais made itself available to the victims and their families.
The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) repudiated the attack on Cruzeiro fans, said that football should not be synonymous with anything similar and promised severe punishment.
In a statement, Cruzeiro lamented the episode of violence between fans. “There is no longer room for violence in football, a sport that unites passions and crowds. We need to put an end to these criminal acts”, he states.
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras repudiated the episode. In a statement, the club declares that football cannot serve as a backdrop for fights and deaths. “May the facts be duly investigated by the competent authorities and the criminals punished rigorously.”
