Independiente faced Universidad de Chile in the first leg of their Copa Sudamericana tie. The passion dripped from the walls of the Liberatores de America stadium in Buenos Aires. The tie was already heated following Universidad de Chile’s close 1-0 win in the first leg. During the second half, pandemonium broke out with many injured and over 30 arrested.
The match was called off in the 48th minute with the teams level at 1-1. In the violence that ensued, ten people were shot. Many of them were even stabbed, as explained by Chile’s ambassador to Argentina. Rival fans fought each other, turning into violent thugs. Law enforcement cold stopped the event and arrested 90 people on site.
Independiente’s president Nestor Grindetti condemned the actions of Universidad de Chile supporters, calling their behavior “truly reprehensible.” In doing so, he inherited their ugly history of violence, called the violence their responsibility, and still warned that accountability is coming. We noted that Chile’s President Gabriel Boric was rightly horrified by recent developments. He demanded that the perpetrators of the violence be brought to justice. He took aim at the match organizers. He noted that they failed to take adequate steps to address such incidents from ever happening.
And then things got out of hand in a major way. A supporter of Universidad de Chile leaped from the stands, attempting to flee the pursuing fans. To make matters worse, a stun grenade was reportedly tossed by supporters into the fray, further intensifying the chaotic atmosphere that erupted.
Social media reactions reflected the outrage surrounding the violence. Felipe Loyola, a notable figure, emphasized that “this level of violence cannot be tolerated,” echoing sentiments shared by many across various platforms.
