Sports Reporter Targeted in Disturbing Airport Attack
A Brazilian football reporter became the victim of a shocking assault when unruly fans violently pulled her hair during a live broadcast from Rio de Janeiro's Galeao Airport. Duda Dalponte, a 25-year-old journalist working for SportTV and TVGlobo, was conducting a segment about Flamengo supporters as they prepared to travel to Lima, Peru for Saturday's Copa Libertadores final.
The Violent Incident Captured on Camera
The disturbing footage shows Dalponte standing in front of cheering red-and-black-clad Flamengo fans while wearing a blue shirt. Suddenly, her head jerks backwards as an unidentified individual grabs her ponytail. The assault didn't stop there - the perpetrator repeated the violation two more times, prompting Dalponte to confront the person responsible, though the culprit remains unidentifiable from the video evidence.
In the aftermath, Dalponte took to Instagram to explain the traumatic experience. "At first, I thought the pull was unintentional," she revealed in a translated video. "The second time, I realized it was intentional, and then the third time I turned around to try to understand what was happening, to try to see who was doing it."
Journalist Speaks Out Against Aggression
The young reporter emphasised that while journalists regularly work in environments with excited fans, this incident crossed a dangerous line. "But some things are not jokes, they're not just excitement — some things are aggression, and what happened today was aggression," Dalponte stated powerfully.
She expressed her sadness about the "regrettable situation" and hoped it would serve as a lesson about respecting journalists, particularly women working in field reporting. Despite the trauma, Dalponte later reassured supporters that she was doing fine, captioning her post: "Long day but all good! Thank you for the messages."
Outpouring of Support and Condemnation
The football community responded with overwhelming support for Dalponte and condemnation of the attacker. One social media user who witnessed the incident live commented: "I was watching live and couldn't believe it. It's very revolting."
Another translated post read: "Lack of respect! [Totally] absurd! Our solidarity with the reporter." The incident sparked broader conversations about fan behaviour and journalist safety in sports environments.
The assault occurred as Flamengo fans gathered ahead of their team's crucial Copa Libertadores final against Sao Paolo's Palmeiras on Saturday. The South American tournament represents the equivalent of Europe's prestigious UEFA Champions League, attracting massive fan interest across the continent.
