Vasco da Gama ordered to play at neutral venue

Vasco da Gama have been ordered to play six home matches at a neutral venue after the death of a fan this month, a Brazilian sports tribunal has ruled.

A panel of three judges said on Monday that Vasco were partly to blame for violent clashes between fans following Vasco's 1-0 defeat to Flamengo at the Sao Januario stadium in Brazil's Serie A football championship on July 8, reports Xinhua news agency.

Davi Rocha Lopes, 27, died after being shot in the neck while two other supporters also suffered gunshot wounds.

Flamengo were fined 5,000 Brazilian reais (around $1,500) for the unruly behaviour of their fans, the superior court of sports justice said in a statement.

Vasco and Flamengo are both expected to appeal.

The tragedy is the latest in a long list of violent episodes in Brazilian football.

At least 20 football fans have died in the country since 1997 because of violence at stadiums, according to the Globo newspaper.

--IANS

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