Brusque and Paysandu match suspended over stadium safety concerns

A decisive match in the Brazilian Série C between Brusque and Paysandu was suspended at the Arena Simon due to structural safety concerns. During the first half, a metal grandstand intended for visiting fans showed signs of instability, and a camera tower used for the VAR system also experienced excessive movement. This led to the match being halted at the 46th minute of the first half, with Paysandu leading 1-0.

To ensure fairness in the promotion race, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) also suspended the simultaneous match between Ferroviária and Inter de Limeira. Both games are scheduled to be resumed on Sunday at 15:00, playing behind closed doors.

Following the suspension, Paysandu issued an official statement repudiating alleged xenophobic remarks made by the stadium announcer toward northern Brazilian fans. The club also criticized the poor infrastructure and potential overcrowding in the visitor sector. Brusque countered these claims, stating that they sold only 616 tickets for a sector with a 620-person capacity and alleged that fans forced irregular entry, which may have contributed to the structural issues.