Partner of the concessionaire responsible for managing the Pacaembu stadium tries to punch a Folha reporter.

247 -  Eduardo Barella, CEO and partner of Allegra Pacaembu, was involved in an attempted assault against journalist Demétrio Vecchioli. FSP, on the morning of this Tuesday (28). The reporter was on site to cover the reopening of the public areas of Pacaembu, as announced the day before by the municipal secretary of Sport and Leisure, Rogério Lins (Podemos).

The confusion began around 9 a.m. when Vecchioli arrived at the complex. Initially stopped by a security guard, he was later allowed to enter. He then informed the concessionaire's press officer about what had happened and said he was already inside. The press officer then went to the location.

The encounter with Barella took place in the tennis area, after the journalist had toured other parts of the complex. As they returned from the pool towards the social entrance, the executive lunged at the reporter, raising his arm and preparing to punch him. The blow, however, was prevented by the assistant, who restrained Barella for approximately one minute while he repeatedly said he was going to "get" the journalist.

Faced with the hostility, Vecchioli turned on his cell phone camera and began recording. The footage shows the aide pushing Barella into an outside area. In response, the CEO called him a "bad character" three times before being pulled away by another man. No security intervened during the altercation.

In a statement, Allegra Pacaembu denied that any physical aggression occurred and stated that the situation was resolved in less than two minutes. "The Allegra Pacaembu concessionaire reiterates its commitment to respecting a free press and the democratic, inclusive, and plural access of the population, and therefore invites Folha's reporters to return to the complex whenever they wish, from 6 am to 22 pm," the statement said.

Vecchioli reported that there were at least four surveillance cameras at the scene of the incident and that the Sheet The company requested access to the images but received no response from the concessionaire. The São Paulo City Hall also issued a statement, regretting the incident and condemning "any action that restricts freedom of the press."

Pacaembu reopened its public areas this Tuesday (28), including the swimming pool and athletics track, as announced on Monday (27) by Secretary Rogério Lins during the complex's reopening ceremony. On Saturday (25), the stadium hosted the final of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup.