INTERNATIONAL: One of Brazil's biggest derby matches was canceled shortly before kick-off on Saturday (February 26), after players from Gremio were hurt when fans attacked their team bus on the way to a game against city rivals Internacional.

The match between the two main clubs in Porto Alegre is known as the Grenal but Gremio withdrew from the match at Inter's Beira-Rio stadium after rocks smashed through coach windows and hurt players.

Gremio released footage of midfielder Mathias Villasanti being taken to hospital in an ambulance. It also showed footage of smashed windows and a rock bigger than a fist it said to hit the Paraguayan player. Gremio and Internacional said they repudiated the violence, adding that two suspects had been arrested.

Gremio later said Villasanti, 25, was being treated for a cerebral concussion and cranial trauma. He was also being treated for lacerations to the face and trauma in his hip and would spend the night in hospital for further observation.

No fractures were reported. It was the second time in three days that a bus carrying a Brazilian team had been attacked on its way to a game after Bahia players were hit before Thursday night's match against Sampaio Correa in Salvador.

The Porto Alegre incident also took place the same night that fans wielding metal bars invaded the pitch and attacked Parana players, forcing the suspension of their game against Uniao Beltrao in Curitiba.

With around five minutes to go in the state championship match, Parana was losing 3-1, a result that doomed them to relegation to the second division.

Videos showed angry fans punching players, who responded with kung fu kicks as other supporters poured onto the field to join the fighting.

Both sets of players eventually managed to sprint to the dressing rooms as police fired percussion grenades and forced fans off the pitch.

^{PHOTO: FOOTAGE OF INTERNATIONAL SOCCER TEAM FANS ATTACKING BUS CARRYING GREMIO PLAYERS / INJURED PLAYER / DAMAGE TO BUS / ROCK THROWN AT BUS / SHATTERED WINDOWS}