Brazil: Nissan break contract with Vasco da Gama following incidents against Atletico Paranaense

The Brazilian subsidiary of Japanese automaker Nissan have ended their sponsorship deal with Vasco da Gama (Brazil), on the 16/12/2013.

The termination by Nissan comes following violent clashes between supporters which resulted in several serious injuries on the last day of the Brazilian championship between Vasco da Gama and Atlético Paranaense (1-5) in the Joinville Arena (Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil), on the 08/12/2013. Following this result, Vasco da Gama were relegated to Brazil's second division.

"These acts of violence are incompatible with the values and principles supported and defended by the company across the world," said Nissan Brazil on their Facebook page. Nissan had been a partner of Vasco da Gama since the 19/07/2013. The Japanese company were due to pay €2.7 million per year until 2017 to appear on the back of the Rio de Janeiro club's shirt.

• The match was classified as high risk and had been relocated to Joinville, a neutral ground, because of previous clashes between supporters of the two clubs, one based in Rio de Janeiro (Vasco da Gama) and one in…