Visiting fans unleashed a true manhunt, destroyed facilities, assaulted locals, and left several seriously injured
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The second leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana between Independiente and Universidad de Chile, which was being played in Avellaneda, ended abruptly after serious incidents caused by the visiting supporters. The events led to the cancellation of the match and an escalation of violence carried out by the dissident faction of the local club. As a result of the disturbances, more than 300 Chilean fans were detained by the police.
Located in the Upper South Stand, the Chilean fans caused significant damage: they broke into a cleaning room, destroyed bathrooms, tore out seats, and turned all available materials into projectiles, including broomsticks and bottles. These items were continuously thrown toward the lower tiers where Independiente fans were located, causing partial seat fires and the explosion of noise bombs, according to the live broadcast.
Estadio Libertadores de América.
The start of the second half was delayed after several warnings from the loudspeakers and police intervention. The stadium's official voice announced: "Due to acts of vandalism, the visiting supporters must leave the stand". However, as soon as the match was about to resume, referee Gustavo Tejera had to suspend it two minutes later after fans entered the field, some of them already injured by attacks from U supporters.
Despite the visiting captains' attempts at mediation, the situation worsened: the dissident faction of the Rojo's barra entered the Chilean sector to confront the few fans who remained, resulting in a true manhunt. The local aggressors beat, stripped, and injured several visitors, some covered in blood and others lying on the seats. There was even a report of a fan falling from the stand.
Estadio Libertadores de América
The security operation, coordinated by Aprevide, included 650 police officers and more than 150 private agents, but none could effectively intervene in the area where the aggressors were located. This episode highlights not only the lack of control during the match but also the repeated violent behavior of U de Chile: just a month earlier, Conmebol had issued a warning for the improper use of flags and the presence of fans in prohibited areas.
Daniel Schapira, Universidad de Chile executive, expressed his concern: "Terrible, this is unbelievable. Something always happens to us. It's also an organizational issue: you can't put U supporters above Independiente's barra. This has become a circus". He added that a sanction will be inevitable: "They're going to ban us from being visitors. Control is very difficult... The sanctions will be harsh. We're always experiencing the same thing, it's desperate. It's a social, cultural issue; this is much more than football".
Estadio Libertadores de América.
The images and videos released show fans covered in blood, others fleeing into the void, and hand-to-hand fighting that turned the stand into a real battlefield. Among the objects thrown were pieces of masonry, seats, cleaning items, and noise bombs. The match, which was already 1-1, turned into a spectacle of terror, with neither the Police nor private security able to control the events.
Finally, Conmebol's Disciplinary Unit will have to decide on the outcome of the match, although attention is focused on the magnitude of the violence and the impunity with which the visitors acted. The cancellation of the match highlights the inability to control foreign violence in Argentine stadiums and the urgent need for stricter measures to preserve the safety of responsible local and visiting fans.
