Guarani fans stage mock 'funeral' after Ponte Preta relegation

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Guarani fans stage mock 'funeral' after Ponte Preta relegation
Brazilian football's fierce local rivalries rarely lack drama, but events in Campinas delivered a spectacle that quickly captured global attention.

Supporters of Guarani used half-time to stage a mock "funeral" celebrating the relegation of their bitter rivals Ponte Preta - a moment that has since gone viral on social media.

The scene unfolded at the Estádio Brinco de Ouro during Guarani's Campeonato Paulista fixture against Botafogo-SP on 7 February.

With the home side trailing at the break, fans might normally have expected tactical analysis or a routine interval announcement.

Instead, the stadium announcer had something rather different in store.
Attention fans! Turn the lights on your phones on!
As thousands of supporters illuminated the stands, the floodlights were dimmed, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Moments later came the punchline: confirmation that Ponte Preta had been relegated following a 2-0 defeat to Portuguesa.

Relegation news sparks wild celebrations

The announcement triggered an explosion of noise inside the ground.

Cheers, applause and laughter rippled across the stadium as fans revelled in their rivals' misfortune.

The theatrical mood deepened when the public address system played "The Last Post," reinforcing the mock funeral theme.

What might have seemed spontaneous was anything but.

Fireworks erupted soon after, suggesting preparations had been made in anticipation of Ponte Preta's potential drop.

The sequence of events, captured on video and widely shared online, rapidly became a talking point far beyond São Paulo state.

A rivalry rooted in Campinas history

Few outside Brazil fully appreciate the intensity of the Campinas derby between Guarani and Ponte Preta.

The two clubs, separated by geography but united by decades of hostility, share one of the country's most heated local rivalries.

Whilst Brazil boasts dozens of historic football feuds, the Campinas clash carries its own distinctive edge.

Matches between the sides are often charged with emotion, and bragging rights hold immense significance for supporters on both sides of the divide.

Earlier in the season, Guarani had already claimed a dramatic victory over Ponte Preta, securing a 1-0 win courtesy of a stoppage-time goal despite playing most of the match with ten men.

Ponte Preta's subsequent relegation only intensified the narrative.

Irony as Guarani lose the match

In a twist emblematic of football's unpredictability, Guarani ultimately lost the game itself, falling 2-0 to Botafogo-SP.

Yet the result did little to dampen the mood among home fans, whose focus had shifted firmly to events elsewhere.

For many supporters, local rivalry eclipses league standings, and the celebrations reflected the deep cultural significance of derby dynamics in Brazilian football.

Why the moment resonated online

The incident's viral spread highlights the global appetite for football stories that blend rivalry, theatre and raw emotion.

Social media users were quick to comment on the creativity - and ruthlessness - of the gesture, with reactions ranging from amusement to disbelief.

Moments like these underscore why Brazilian football culture continues to fascinate international audiences: passion, humour and antagonism often coexist in unforgettable fashion.

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