JAKARTA - Brazilian soccer club Bahia said three of its players were injured when a bomb exploded on top of a team bus on their way to Thursday's match.
The second division team tweeted that goalkeeper Danilo Fernandes had been taken to hospital with injuries to his face from broken glass.
Quoted from Reuters on Friday, Bahia said the bomb exploded as the team arrived at the Fonte Nova Stadium in Salvador to face Sampaio Correa in the Copa do Nordeste, a tournament for teams in northeastern Brazil.
The club posted photos on Twitter of damaged back windows of the bus and seats covered in blood, along with images of the damaged car it said were also hit while traveling on the bus.
"The most worrying case is goalkeeper Danilo Fernandes, whose face was hit by shards of glass and is on his way to hospital," Bahia said on Twitter.
Danilo Fernandes está bem, mas passará a noite no hospital. O goleiro teve múltiplos ferrimentos na face, no pescoço e nos membros inferiores, que precisaram ser suturados, e ficará em observação pra exames complementares e avaliação de ophthalmologista, pois há corte perto do olho. https://t.co/VuJn3pRYto
— Esporte Clube Bahia (@ECBahia) February 25, 2022
Bahia, one of the best-supported clubs in the region, opted to continue but said three players, including Fernandes, had missed the match due to the explosion.
"The squad, with dignity and professionalism, will take to the pitch to honor Bahia," said coach Guto Ferreira.
The club did not comment on who placed or threw the explosives, or provided details about the materials themselves.
Attacks on team coaches are not uncommon in Brazil but reports of bombs are rare. Fans often throw stones and missiles at team coaches, both their own and the opposing team.
A number of top clubs expressed their solidarity with Bahia via social media.
“Unacceptable,” Botafogo wrote in one signature response. “This is a criminal act that requires serious investigation. Botafogo stands with our colleagues in Bahia.
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