Botafogo Ultras Storm Brazilian Club's Training Ground To Confront Players Over Poor Form

Fans of Brazilian side Botafogo have stormed the club's training ground to confront players over their poor form. Watch the video below:

Police were called to the club's Espaco Lonier facility in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday after dozens of supporters forced their way into the property.

Videos posted on social media showed fans remonstrating with players and staff in what appears to be a medical treatment room.

The protest has come after a poor run of results for Botafogo, who have lost four consecutive games in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A – the top tier of Brazilian club football.

Botafogo are currently fourth-bottom of the table, in the final relegation place, having picked up just 12 points from their opening 11 games of the season.

A 1-0 defeat to Avai on Monday prompted fans to launch their protest.

The invasion comes as a major distraction for Botafogo ahead of their next match against Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Championship club QPR have recalled defender Niko Hamalainen from his loan spell with the Brazilian club.

The 25-year-old was expected to remain with Botafogo until July but QPR have exercised an option to recall him early.

It is not yet clear if the decision is related to the violent scenes at the club's training ground.

In January, Botafogo's board voted to abandon being a fan-owned club and sold a 90 per cent stake in the club to American businessman John Textor, who is also co-owner of Premier League side Crystal Palace.

It came after controversial Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro approved a law which paved the way for clubs that have historically been owned by fans to be transformed into limited companies.

Last season, supporters of French side Marseille also broke into their team's training ground to stage a protest.

And in 2018, around 50 masked Sporting Lisbon fans forced entry into their team's training facility, attacking players and staff after a poor run of form.