A violent row involving scores of people has led to the cancellation of the election of a champion samba school at the Sao Paulo Carnival.

Shortly before the winner was announced Tuesday, a member of the Imperio da Casa Verde samba school stormed the jury box, seized their completed scoring papers and tore them up before fleeing, all captured by television cameras.

The suspect was later identified and arrested along with four other samba school members.

After the incident, members and supporters from several samba schools poured into the Anhembi Sambadrome and vandalized facilities.

A float from the Perola Negra group was set ablaze while at the sambadrome, with the owners blaming rivals from the Gavioes da Fiel group.