What should have been a thrilling night of South American football ended in violence on Wednesday as Argentina’s Independiente and Universidad de Chile’s supporters clashed in shocking scenes at the Libertadores de América stadium in Buenos Aires.
At least ten fans were injured and 90 others arrested after halftime skirmishes spiraled out of control during the Copa Sudamericana last-16 second-leg tie.
The violence forced officials to suspend and eventually abandon the game, leaving the competition overshadowed by mayhem.
Trouble broke out shortly after halftime when visiting supporters began hurling bottles, stones, sticks, and even stadium seats into a section of home fans. Chaos quickly spread, with eyewitnesses reporting a stun grenade thrown into the crowd.
In one desperate moment, a Universidad de Chile fan jumped from the stands to escape a mob of rival supporters, while others were cornered, beaten, and stripped of their clothes before security forces intervened.
Police confirmed that dozens of arrests were made outside the stadium as groups of fans attempted to prolong the clashes beyond the arena. “We have 90 people detained because they tried to cause trouble, and they have already been taken to the police station,” a security ministry source told AFP.
The shocking scenes reignited concerns about football violence in Argentina, where fan rivalries and barrabrava hooligan groups have long marred the sport. For many, Wednesday’s incident was a grim reminder that passion for football in South America often walks a thin line between spectacle and disaster..
