Football fans were left stunned when fans of Paris Saint-Germain and Brazilian side Botafogo were seen brawling in the stands during their Club World Cup match.
The Champions League winners suffered a shock 1-0 defeat on Thursday, leaving their hopes of qualifying for the next round in the balance despite their 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid on matchday one.
A first-half goal from Brazilian international Igor Jesus proved the difference between the reigning champions of Europe and South America at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
PSG were widely tipped as one of the hot favourites to win the new-look 32-team tournament after a stunning European campaign which culminated in their thumping 5-0 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League final last month.
They also hadn’t lost in any competition since May 3 and Luis Enrique took the opportunity to rotate his side in California. Notably, Goncalo Ramos started at centre forward ahead of Ousmane Dembele, who remains out injured. The gamble, though, didn’t pay off.
But a dark cloud was cast over Botafogo’s victory when their fans were seen throwing punches in the stands in California – though it is unclear what caused the melee.
Fans of PSG and Botafogo were seen brawling in the stands during their Club World Cup match
In a 58-second long footage, supporters of both sides were seen getting involved in the melee
The defeat has left the European champions at risk of not qualifying for the knockouts
In a 58-second-long video shared on social media, a person in a Botafogo shirt could be seen throwing punches before more members of the crowd became involved.
Someone in a PSG shirt appeared to punch another supporter from behind, as a bundle of sorts ensued elsewhere in the stand, which had no individual seats – rather blocks of bench-like furniture.
More people wearing shirts of the European champions then seemed to get involved, with one person in black appearing to cheer.
There was a brief period of separation with no punches thrown in the two groups, before someone in a Botafogo strip approached a PSG fan and fell to the floor as more punches were thrown.
The PSG supporter, who was wearing shorts and a bandana, was then ushered away by someone else wearing the same strip.
That was until they were caught up in another scrap, which saw a Botafogo supporter throw a punch and the other fan then turn around to get involved with shouting heard in the background.
A number of other supporters then piled in, many falling over in the stands, with one PSG fan appearing to stomp on a supporter.
The footage ends with people running in to separate the brawl and a group trying to help one fan, who was laying in between rows, up.
There was a brief period with no punches thrown in the groups before the fighting continued
The footage ends with people running in to separate the brawl and a group trying to help a fan
The holders of the Champions League hadn’t lost to a South American side since 2012
The last time a Champions League holders lost to a South American side came back in 2012, when Corinthians stunned Chelsea in the Club World Cup final.
To avoid a red-faced elimination, PSG must beat MLS outfit Seattle Sounders, who have been knocked out of the tournament, in their last group match.
