The teenage Corinthians fan who confessed to causing the death of a 14-year-old Bolivian boy during a Copa Libertadores game has handed himself into authorities.
The 17-year-old, accompanied by his lawyer, appeared before a juvenile court in Guarulhos, São Paulo, where he testified for more than two hours about what he has described as an accident.
In an interview aired on Brazil’s Globo TV late Sunday, the teenager took responsibility for the death of Kevin Espada, who died after a flare penetrated his right eye during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw between Corinthians and San José in Oruro.
“We were celebrating the [Corinthians] goal. I took the flare from my bag, pulled on the cord, but didn’t quite know how to use it. It took off in the direction of the Bolivian fans," said the Timão fan, who had his face hidden and was accompanied by his mother.
The teen, who is identified only as H.A.M, asked for forgiveness from the victim’s family and from those of the 12 detained Brazilian fans, who have also been accused of causing the incident.
Conmebol, the South American football’s governing body, has meanwhile denied Corinthians’ appeal against the punishment to play their home Copa Libertadores matches behind closed doors for the next 60 days.
