The Colombian Soccer Federation presented formal denunciations to FIFA Saturday alleging that the national team has suffered abuse at the hands of Brazilian police.
“Los Cafeteros” players claim to have been the targets of “verbal aggression” and “derogatory treatment” by security forces ever since arriving at the airport in São Paolo for the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, Colombia’s Radio Antena 2 reported on Sunday.
“The Colombian soccer team laments the actions of the security personnel of the Federal Police of the state of São Paolo assigned to the security delegation, which has repeatedly and aggravatingly caused unrest in players and coaches during the last hours,” read a statement released by the Soccer Federation of Colombia.
“The Colombian Soccer Federation has written to FIFA in search of an immediate solution of the difficulties,” leaders of the Colombian Soccer Federation wrote.
No further details of the alleged abuse have been released.
Colombia’s first appearance in the World Cup in 16 years resulted in a 3-0 victory over Greece on Saturday.
MORE: Colombia beats Greece 3-0 in 1st World Cup match in 16 years
Pablo Armero opened scoring for Colombia in 5′, with a one-touch driven shot from the top of the box. Teofilo Gutierrez then scored on a tap-in off of a corner kick in 58′, and James Rodriguez capped the game with a well-placed shot in the 92′.
Los Cafeteros will battle the Ivory Coast on Thursday before taking on Japan on June 24 for its final game of group play. The Ivory Coast won its first match against Japan on Saturday 2-1.
Sources
- Seleccion Colombia fue maltratada por la policia de Sao Paulo (Radio Antena 2)