BELO HORIZONTE: Two fans died as fans of Cruzeiro celebrated the club’s triumph in the Brazilian championship after last night’s 3-1 win over Vitoria in Salvador.

Back in Belo Horizonte tragey struck as crowds swarmed into the streets – not, this time, in protest but delight.

Teenager Robson Almeida Alves died after he and seven friends tumbled off a truck and in front of a car not far from the Minerao World Cup stadium. Two other young people were treated in hospital for cuts and bruises.

In the other incident Edimar Lawrence, a 36-year-old teacher, was shot twice in the head in a scuffle between fans near the central Cathedral Square. He was treated first at a health centre, also fro stab wounds, but died later in hosital.

The military police reported 15 arrests, 13 for vandalism. The other two were detained and charged with attempted theft after police controlled the crowd with stun grenades and tear gas.

Cruzeiro’s domination of the Brasileiro caps a momentous year for football in Belo Horizonte after their city rivals, Atlético Mineiro, won the Copa Libertadores in July. Atletico will compete in next month’s FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco.

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