Brazilian police fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse protesters near a stadium hosting a Confederations Cup football semi-final, as Brasilia adopted measures aimed at calming two weeks of social unrest.
The unrest outside the venue in Belo Horizonte, where Brazil beat Uruguay 2-1, was the latest in a wave of anti-government protests staged in part to denounce the high costs of hosting the event and next year’s World Cup.
A violent demonstrator kicks a tear gas shell during clashes with the police outside the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte. PIC/AFP
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The demonstrators have also been demanding tougher penalties against corrupt politicians and better public services in the world’s seventh largest economy.
Brazil in final
A towering Paulinho header saw Brazil edge Uruguay 2-1 on Wednesday in an ill-tempered Confederations Cup semi-final.
Fred scored from close range two minutes from half-time to calm the nerves of the five-time world champions and Confederations Cup title holders after Diego Forlan had first missed a penalty for Uruguay.
But Edinson Cavani levelled three minutes after the restart and thereafter the hosts were rocking before Paulinho rose high to plant a firm close-range header past Fernando Muslera.
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