Violent Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 second-leg match between Argentina’s Independiente and Chile’s Universidad de Chile descended into chaos at the Libertadores de América stadium in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires.
The match was abandoned after violent clashes erupted between rival fans, leading to injuries and numerous arrests.
The violence began shortly after halftime when Universidad de Chile supporters started throwing projectiles, including seats, bottles, and fireworks, towards the Independiente fans.
In response, some Independiente supporters moved into the section occupied by the visiting fans, resulting in physical confrontations involving sticks and metal poles.
The situation escalated rapidly, with both sets of fans clashing violently in the stands.
The referee, Uruguayan official Guillermo Tejera, initially suspended the match to allow fans to seek cover.
However, the violence continued unabated, prompting the decision to abandon the game entirely.
South American football’s governing body, cited a lack of adequate security measures by the local authorities and the host club as the primary reasons for the abandonment and announced that the incident would be referred to its disciplinary committee.
Reports indicate that at least 10 individuals were injured during the clashes, with some requiring hospitalization.
Additionally, approximately 90 people were arrested in connection with the violence.
Disturbingly, there are reports of a child being attacked with sticks during the mayhem. The severity of the incidents has drawn widespread condemnation from various quarters.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric condemned the violence, describing it as “wrong in too many ways” and highlighting the “obvious irresponsibility” in the organization of the event.
He emphasized the importance of supporting injured nationals and ensuring the rights of detainees.
President Boric instructed the Chilean ambassador in Argentina to personally visit both the police station where Universidad de Chile fans were detained and the hospital where the injured were being treated.
CONMEBOL has stated that the final result of the match and any potential sanctions will be determined by its disciplinary committee.
The governing body has also warned that disciplinary action could be taken against both clubs involved.
The events at the Libertadores de América stadium have cast a shadow over South American football, raising serious concerns about fan behavior and the adequacy of security measures at matches.
The abandonment of the Copa Sudamericana match serves as a stark reminder of the need for stringent measures to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of all participants and spectators.