Judo Is One of the Ways Used to Control Hooligans During the World Soccer Cup

Judo was one of the ways used by the Military Police from Amazon to prevent potential acts of violence during the World Soccer Cup. Since Manaus hosted the match between England and Italy, a game considered highly dangerous because of the rivalry between the two countries, the MP set up a special team to stop the hooligans’ activities, fans who often use violence against their opponents and are ready for vandalism. A task force composed of 60 black-belt officers was especially set up to end any conflict between fans.

"Fighting violence with violence, everyone knows what this does not work. That is why we prepared 60 police officers to contain the riots. Skilled in martial arts such as judo and jujitsu, they are trained to immobilize or perform some other blow without causing any injury. Their only concern is stopping any violence. These policemen are the best we have, "said the Commander General of the Military Police, Colonel David Almir.

The English people, the main concern of the MP from Amazonas, were targets of several preventive actions, starting from their supervision by BINA (Brazilian Intelligence Agency) and the Federal Police. They gathered data and screened their arrival at the Amazon Arena in order to prevent any supporter enter with weapons or objects that could put others at risk. Moreover, in England, the police summoned about 1400 hooligans who had already been banned from British stadiums to surrender their passports.

It seems that the Police’s action worked since it was not registered any serious case of violence in Manaus on the game’s day which ended with the Italians’ victory by 2-1.