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World Cup 2014: Police investigating 'disabled' fans standing out of wheelchairs

The Brazil fans were photographed in the opening match against Croatia

Lizzie Dearden
Friday 20 June 2014 23:02 BST
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Police are investigating pictures of fans apparently standing out of wheelchairs at Brazil's match against Croatia.
Police are investigating pictures of fans apparently standing out of wheelchairs at Brazil's match against Croatia. (TabloideBR)

Brazilian police are investigating pictures that appear to show fans jumping out of wheelchairs during the opening game of the World Cup.

A woman standing in front of a chair wearing Brazilian colours seems to have no trouble gesticulating at the pitch during Brazil's match against Croatia on 12 June.

The combination of a shortage of public tickets offered by Fifa and a large number of unsold concession tickets for disabled people, pensioners and students has led to many being missold, according to the Tabloide BR newspaper.

Touts have been selling disabled tickets outside stadiums, meaning that some football fans who turned to the black market may be using wheelchairs to cover their tracks.

Selling tickets for over their face value is a crime punishable by up to four years in prison in Brazil and some have already been seen on sale for more than £1,000.

Officers at the Itaquera police department in São Paulo are using 22 CCTV images and 10 more taken by other fans in the stadium to investigate.

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