Shocking Scene: Pig's Head Hurled in Derby Drama

Some football derbies are famous for wild goals, others for legendary players. But the latest showdown between Palmeiras and Corinthians will be remembered for something out of left field—a pig’s head thrown onto the pitch.

It all played out on November 6, 2024, in the intense atmosphere of the Paulista Derby. As Palmeiras prepared for a corner kick, a group of Corinthians fans tossed a severed pig’s head onto the grass. This wasn’t just a random prank. Palmeiras’ nickname is 'Porco,' which means pig in Portuguese, and Corinthians supporters were leaning in hard on rivalry and provocation. The stunt echoed the infamously hostile 2002 El Clásico moment, when Barcelona fans hurled a pig’s head at Luis Figo, who’d just switched to bitter rivals Real Madrid. Football fans never forget.

For a few seconds, confusion hung in the air. Corinthians’ striker Yuri Alberto stepped up, thinking it was some kind of squishy cushion. He booted it off the pitch—later admitting he almost got hurt, not realizing what he was dealing with. The animal’s head, disturbingly real, drew gasps from both the stands and players.

But the match went on. Fired up, Yuri Alberto later found the back of the net, helping his side to a convincing 2-0 win. That victory had even bigger implications—derailing Palmeiras’ hopes of clinching the Brazilian championship, which eventually went to Botafogo. For fans in green and white, the defeat stung all the more because of how it unfolded.

Derby Hostility: More Than Just a Game

This wasn’t just about one outrageous act, though. The Palmeiras-Corinthians rivalry is among the fiercest in Brazil, with both clubs’ supporters not afraid to turn up the heat. Clashes in the stands and sharp chants are par for the course, but this move crossed a new line—prompting immediate police action. Security teams quickly identified two suspects among Corinthians’ ultras and took them into custody. Both were released later, but the investigation is still running, with authorities working to prevent future escalations.

This Derby moment didn’t just dominate sports headlines in São Paulo. It sparked fresh debate about where club loyalty tips over into something uglier—and just how far some fans will go to taunt their rivals. For players, it was a reminder of how off-pitch antics can put them at risk and change the dynamic of a crucial game. The image of a pig’s head on the field, decades after the Figo incident, shows these heated rivalries haven’t cooled off. If anything, the drama is as raw as ever, especially when so much is on the line for both teams and their fans.