Court bans organized fan groups in Goiás.

TJ-GO_ Judge Eduardo Tavares dos Reis, of the 14th Civil and Environmental Court of Goiânia, granted an injunction, this Tuesday (19), to immediately suspend the activities of the organized fan groups Força Jovem Goiás, Esquadrão Vilanovense and Dragões Atleticanos, while the public civil action that asks for the suspension of the actions of these organizations for a period of five years is being processed.

Therefore, its members will be prohibited from wearing clothing, banners, posters, flags, musical instruments, or any means that could identify them in football stadiums or meetings. This includes the prohibition of combining colors, accessories, or devices that suggest they are part of a fan group, under penalty of being denied entry to the stadium and having the seized material confiscated.

The injunction also covers any action by organized fan groups linked to clubs from other states on days of national competition matches, as well as the access of fans to the Serra Dourada Stadium with flags, clothing, or musical instruments. In case of non-compliance, Judge Eduardo Tavares established a daily fine of R$ 1. He also ordered that the Military Police, Civil Police, Municipal Guard, the Goiana Football Federation, and the Goiana Sports and Leisure Agency be notified to enforce the court order. The football institutions will have ten days to notify the federations and sports agencies of the other states.

Violence

According to the judge, the decision is important for reducing violence. He noted that in 2012, a decision that suspended the activities of organized fan groups for 120 days, between April 20 and August 20, drastically reduced the statistics related to the matter. During that period, there was not a single serious incident or occurrence related to the Goiás and Vila Nova fan groups.

However, as soon as the ban ended, four fans – one from Goiás and three from Vila Nova – were killed on August 25th. And, on February 2nd, two of them were shot and a third beaten in the vicinity of Serra Dourada. "In my understanding, it is proven that the suspension of the activities of organized fan groups was truly beneficial to the community; there was a reduction in crime, giving greater weight to the argument of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Military Police that limiting activities reduces violence," he said.

According to Eduardo Tavares, reports from the Military Police Command indicate a "civil war climate" in the capital. The document reports the redeployment of regular neighborhood policing to 11 bus terminals, 2 squares, 4 parks, and various corridors three hours before and three hours after the scheduled game time. This results in a 15% increase in incidents during that period.

"There is clearly a disproportion between the goods and values ​​that should be protected by the State. If things continue as they are, there is a disproportionate privilege for the so-called fans to the detriment of the entire community," he considered. (Text: Aline Leonardo – Social Communication Center of the TJGO)