ITV bosses have had to install hardened security glass at their World Cup studio in Rio de Janeiro after the window was cracked by rock-throwing protesters.
The studio, overlooking Copacabana beach, was pelted during the opening match on Thursday.
The channel’s presenters, led by Adrian Chiles, had wanted to keep the cracked glass in place as a badge of honour, but officials insisted on a replacement.
Chiles told the Standard: “The studio is built over the road so they had to block it all off. We wanted to keep it but they told us the sun might cause it to change shape and cause splinters to shear off so it would be dangerous.They’ve got a reinforced one now to be extra safe.”
Chiles was with ex-Arsenal and England right-back Lee Dixon, former Italy centre-back Fabio Cannavaro, and former France midfielder Patrick Vieira when the attack happened.
He said it was a “huge shock”, adding: “Bloody hell, it was loud.”
Elsewhere, two demonstrators who were arrested after protesting about the cost of the World Cup were reportedly carrying explosives.
They were held after a TV worker was assaulted outside the four-star hotel where Gary Lineker is staying.
The victim was surrounded by a gang after leaving the ITV studios, but fought them off. The incidents prompted the BBC and ITV to step up their private security measures.
