Grindetti defended Independiente and targeted U de Chile: 'We were victims'

One week after the serious incidents that occurred on Wednesday, August 20, in Avellaneda, which forced the suspension of the match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16, El Rojo submitted its formal statement toCONMEBOL.

This Wednesday, president Néstor Grindetti held a press conference in which he read a lengthy report outlining the club's position, although he did not answer questions. In his statement, he emphasized that the institution was not responsible for the disturbances, but rather "a victim of a premeditated attack".

"We acknowledge that the regulations assign responsibility to the event organizer, but the match was canceled due to the visiting fans. This was reported by the referee and CONMEBOL prosecutors," Grindetti stated.

The president detailed that the Chilean fans "broke security cameras, brought in bladed weapons, and continued violent actions during the match," which he considered part of "a predetermined plan orchestrated by the visitors."

He also stressed that Independiente complied with all security requirements: "We had 650 police officers, 150 private security personnel, and 14 APREVIDE agents. The visiting fans were assigned a stand with a reduced capacity, but they destroyed cameras, started fires, and broke concrete to create projectiles for four hours."

In his presentation, Grindetti listed four key points:

1. The violence began among the visiting fans before the start of the match: The club emphasized that the situation arose after Chilean fans threw blunt objects at the home supporters, who were in the lower tier.
2. The club followed all CONMEBOL recommendations: El Rojo keeps that 800 personnel were hired and that the operation cost about 50 million pesos (110,231 pounds).
3. The club provided evidence: As soon as the wave of aggression ended, the club submitted evidence to identify those responsible. In this regard, it has already expelled 25 members who were involved in the clashes.
4. The suspension was due to incidents caused by the opponents: The club claims that the match had already been suspended before the intrusion into the visiting stand.

"We hope that CONMEBOL values the truth and acts with justice, balance, and proportionality that must safeguard South American football," concluded Independiente's president.