Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho used to train in the Flamengo's training centre where a fire tragically killed players aged between 14 and 16 years old on Friday.&nbsp;

Brazilian football was in mourning after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fire-in-brazil-kills-at-least-10-in-flamengo-youth-football-facility-196065">10 people died</a> when the fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo.&nbsp;

Flamengo chief executive Reinaldo Belotti said, "I just wanted to remind everybody that that training ground (Ninho do Urubu) was used by several professional Flamengo teams, also well-known players like Ronaldinho Gaucho, Vagner Love and the Brazilian Olympic team used it too.&nbsp;

Flamengo defended its management of the training ground as Belotti said, "Flamengo did a maintenance checking in all air conditioning units. We have this documented for anyone who would like to see it."&nbsp;

Belotti said that the club is working closely with authorities 'to clarify what happened'.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mums-call-saved-me-15-year-old-had-narrow-escape-from-brazils-flamengo-fire-196268">Mum's call saved me: 15-year-old had&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mums-call-saved-me-15-year-old-had-narrow-escape-from-brazils-flamengo-fire-196268">narrow</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mums-call-saved-me-15-year-old-had-narrow-escape-from-brazils-flamengo-fire-196268">&nbsp;escape from Brazil's Flamengo fire</a>

The blaze ripped through sleeping quarters at the Ninho do Urubu complex in western Rio de Janeiro.&nbsp;

With questions being raised over licensing, Belotti stated to journalists: "we are not talking about a 'puxadinho' (illegal building), we are talking about a proper training ground."&nbsp;

There were reports that stated that Rio de Janeiro's city hall has fined Flamengo 31 times because of infractions at the Ninho do Urubu training ground, which had to be closed in October 2017.&nbsp;

However, The club did not pay 21 of those fines and the current permit issued for the grounds is valid until 8th March.&nbsp;

Family members and fans of Rio de Janeiro football club Flamengo placed flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the club's training centre on Saturday.&nbsp;

Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho used to train in the Flamengo's training centre where a fire tragically killed players aged between 14 and 16 years old on Friday.

Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho used to train in the Flamengo's training centre where a fire tragically killed players aged between 14 and 16 years old on Friday. Brazilian football was in mourning after 10 people died when the fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo. Flamengo chief executive Reinaldo Belotti said, "I just wanted to remind everybody that that training ground (Ninho do Urubu) was used by several professional Flamengo teams, also well-known players like Ronaldinho Gaucho, Vagner Love and the Brazilian Olympic team used it too. Flamengo defended its management of the training ground as Belotti said, "Flamengo did a maintenance checking in all air conditioning units. We have this documented for anyone who would like to see it." Belotti said that the club is working closely with authorities 'to clarify what happened'. Also Read: Mum's call saved me: 15-year-old had narrow escape from Brazil's Flamengo fire The blaze ripped through sleeping quarters at the Ninho do Urubu complex in western Rio de Janeiro. With questions being raised over licensing, Belotti stated to journalists: "we are not talking about a 'puxadinho' (illegal building), we are talking about a proper training ground." There were reports that stated that Rio de Janeiro's city hall has fined Flamengo 31 times because of infractions at the Ninho do Urubu training ground, which had to be closed in October 2017. However, The club did not pay 21 of those fines and the current permit issued for the grounds is valid until 8th March. Family members and fans of Rio de Janeiro football club Flamengo placed flowers at a makeshift memorial outside the club's training centre on Saturday.

Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho trained in Flamengo's ground where fatal fire killed 10

Flamengo defended its management of the training ground where a fire tragically <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fire-in-brazil-kills-at-least-10-in-flamengo-youth-football-facility-196065">killed 10 of its academy players</a> - all aged between 14 and 16 years old.&nbsp;

The chief executive officer of the club Flamengo, Reinaldo Belotti said, "The Fire Department forensics team told us and to some Flamengo employees. The problem started at the air conditioning unit."

He added, "Nobody can guarantee why it started at that unit. These devices went through maintenance checking the day before. They were perfectly fine."&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mums-call-saved-me-15-year-old-had-narrow-escape-from-brazils-flamengo-fire-196268">Mum's call saved me: 15-year-old had </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mums-call-saved-me-15-year-old-had-narrow-escape-from-brazils-flamengo-fire-196268">narrow</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/mums-call-saved-me-15-year-old-had-narrow-escape-from-brazils-flamengo-fire-196268"> escape from Brazil's Flamengo fire</a>

"Flamengo did a maintenance checking in all air conditioning units. All of them. We have this documented for anyone who would like to see it," said Belotti.&nbsp;

There were reports that stated that Rio de Janeiro's city hall has fined Flamengo 31 times because of infractions at the Ninho do Urubu training ground, which had to be closed in October 2017.&nbsp;

However, The club did not pay 21 of those fines and the current permit issued for the grounds is valid until 8th March.&nbsp;

City hall also said the sleeping quarters where the tragedy took place was irregularly licensed as a parking lot.&nbsp;

Flamengo defended its management of the training ground where a fire tragically killed 10 of its academy players - all aged between 14 and 16 years old. The chief executive officer of the club Flamengo, Reinaldo Belotti said, "The Fire Department forensics team told us and to some Flamengo employees.

Flamengo defended its management of the training ground where a fire tragically killed 10 of its academy players - all aged between 14 and 16 years old. The chief executive officer of the club Flamengo, Reinaldo Belotti said, "The Fire Department forensics team told us and to some Flamengo employees. The problem started at the air conditioning unit." He added, "Nobody can guarantee why it started at that unit. These devices went through maintenance checking the day before. They were perfectly fine." Also Read: Mum's call saved me: 15-year-old had narrow escape from Brazil's Flamengo fire "Flamengo did a maintenance checking in all air conditioning units. All of them. We have this documented for anyone who would like to see it," said Belotti. There were reports that stated that Rio de Janeiro's city hall has fined Flamengo 31 times because of infractions at the Ninho do Urubu training ground, which had to be closed in October 2017. However, The club did not pay 21 of those fines and the current permit issued for the grounds is valid until 8th March. City hall also said the sleeping quarters where the tragedy took place was irregularly licensed as a parking lot.

'Fatal fire caused by energy spike,' says Flamengo CEO Reinaldo Belotti

Brazilian football was in mourning on Friday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/fire-in-brazil-kills-at-least-10-in-flamengo-youth-football-facility-196065">10 people died</a> when a fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo.&nbsp;

While a 15-year-old player Ryan Matheus had a narrow escape as&nbsp;a phone call with his mother saved him when the pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed players aged 14 to 17.&nbsp;

Amateur footage shot at night showed the blaze rising from part of the Ninho de Urubu training grounds in Rio's western region.&nbsp;

Matheus was meant to stay in the dorms on the night of the fire but when training was cancelled his mother insisted he return home.&nbsp;

"Training in the morning was cancelled so my mother insisted that I go back home. I was meant to leave (the club) after lunch but she insisted that I come back," said Matheus.&nbsp;

"Then I received a lot of calls, messages from friends thinking that I had stayed there (at the club)."

"We (youth players) spent time together everyday. No, it's going to be very empty without them," he added.&nbsp;

The Rio de Janeiro mayor's office said the dormitory destroyed by the blaze was built on land that was not registered for buildings and that the club had no permission to erect lodgings there.&nbsp;

Like many professional clubs in football-crazed Brazil, Flamengo has a youth development program for promising young players in their early teens, with many staying at the facilities while training.&nbsp;

Flamengo is arguably Brazil's most famous club, with an estimated 40 million fans nationwide.&nbsp;

Brazilian football was in mourning on Friday after 10 people died when a fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo.

Brazilian football was in mourning on Friday after 10 people died when a fire ripped through a youth training facility at the country's most popular club, Flamengo. While a 15-year-old player Ryan Matheus had a narrow escape as a phone call with his mother saved him when the pre-dawn blaze in Rio de Janeiro hit a building that housed players aged 14 to 17. Amateur footage shot at night showed the blaze rising from part of the Ninho de Urubu training grounds in Rio's western region. Matheus was meant to stay in the dorms on the night of the fire but when training was cancelled his mother insisted he return home. "Training in the morning was cancelled so my mother insisted that I go back home. I was meant to leave (the club) after lunch but she insisted that I come back," said Matheus. "Then I received a lot of calls, messages from friends thinking that I had stayed there (at the club)." "We (youth players) spent time together everyday. No, it's going to be very empty without them," he added. The Rio de Janeiro mayor's office said the dormitory destroyed by the blaze was built on land that was not registered for buildings and that the club had no permission to erect lodgings there. Like many professional clubs in football-crazed Brazil, Flamengo has a youth development program for promising young players in their early teens, with many staying at the facilities while training. Flamengo is arguably Brazil's most famous club, with an estimated 40 million fans nationwide.

Mum's call saved me: 15-year-old had narrow escape from Brazil's Flamengo fire

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Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho trained in Flamengo's ground where fatal fire killed 10

'Fatal fire caused by energy spike,' says Flamengo CEO Reinaldo Belotti

Mum's call saved me: 15-year-old had narrow escape from Brazil's Flamengo fire