Jorge Gonzalez was heartbroken on Tuesday as he packed his bags for home after receiving a deportation order from the Brazilian authorities.
Gonzalez was one of about 300 Chilean supporters who startled reporters when they charged through the media centre at the Maracana Stadium last week, in an imitation of the famous running with the bulls through the streets of Pamplona.
Part of an estimated 30 000 Chileans supporters in Brazil, the group had been unable to secure tickets for Chile’s game against Spain, which effectively saw Chile through to the second round after a 2-0 win over the defending champions.
Their desperate attempt to gatecrash the match was foiled when they ran into a cul-de-sac and most of them were arrested by the police and taken into custody.
“Our passports were confiscated and we were handed deportation orders to leave the country within 72 hours or be re-arrested and face serious charges” Gonzalez told Sapa.
“We did not mean to harm anyone or cause any damage but many of us had saved for years to see the World Cup. Our frustration boiled over when we failed to buy tickets outside Maracana, even on the black market.
“So we decided to try and gain access with our desperate charge into the stadium.”
Gonzalez said he did not regret the eventual, unhappy outcome.
“I would do it again. Coming all this way and then missing the game was something we were not able to comprehend.”
Chile, meanwhile, had qualified for a second round match against hosts Brazil, despite losing 2-0 to the Netherlands in their last first-round fixture.
And just as well Gonzalez was heading back to Chile. Tickets for the game against the tournament hosts were reported to be infinitely more difficult to obtain than those at the Maracana.
Source : Sapa /str/jlb
