Porto Alegre (Brazil) – Brazil immigration authorities have stopped no fewer than 32 Argentine group of violent supporters from entering the country.

The authorities of the Brazil’s Ministry of Justice explained at a news conference on Tuesday that it was a result of intense surveillance and integrated efforts between national security forces.

The 32 “Barra Bravas” are Argentine football fans with a history of violence and were prevented from entering Brazil since the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup began on June 12.

Two additional barra bravas have been located in Brazil and notified they must leave the country within 72 hours.

According to Wilkipedia, the Barra Brava is a name for organised supporter groups of football teams in Latin America.

This style of supporting is very similar to European Ultras. It includes standing throughout the match, singing and other enthusiastic behaviour.

Some barras bravas have developed reputations for hooliganism.

The phenomenon originated in Argentina in the 1950s and 1960s, but it has spread throughout the Americas in the 1990s.

In Brazil, the organised Torcida plays a similar role and in Mexico both the terms Barras and Porras are used.

The security action is part of a cooperation agreement between Brazil and Argentina.

As part of the agreement, Argentina has shared with Brazilian authorities a list of over 2,000 names of Argentine fans with a history of violence in stadiums.

Of the 32 barra bravas prevented from entering the country, 18 were travelling by air and 14 were using land routes.

According to Brazil’s Federal Highway Police, 90 percent of the foreigners are in transit to the match between Argentina and Nigeria on Wednesday.

They had declared that they did not have tickets and were interested only in the pre- and post-match celebrations.

The Centre for International Cooperation of the Brazilian Federal Police is currently hosting 200 security professionals from the 31 other countries with national teams playing in the World Cup.

They are also collaborating with professionals from five other guest nations and members from the UN, Interpol and Ameripol.

Each participating delegation is operating in Brazil with an average of seven members, four of which travel alongside their respective national teams and work in uniform in the stadiums in which their national team plays.

These foreign field officers are familiar with their team’s fans and can assist with strategic and prompt intervention efforts.

They operate unarmed and rely on Brazilian public safety authorities for assistance.

The three other members of each delegation are stationed at the Cooperation Centre in Brasilia.

They assist Brazilian authorities by sharing access to relevant databases and by conducting remote surveillance of all stadiums and movements of the national teams through cameras that feed footage directly to a video wall installed at the centre.

Members from all international delegations work in the same physical space, allowing for a constant exchange of information. (NAN)