Violence forces Copa Sudamericana game abandonment

Following violent altercations between fans, a Copa Sudamericana game in Buenos Aires was called off.

Local media reported that during Wednesday’s last-16 second leg between Argentine hosts Independiente and Universidad de Chile, ten people suffered serious injuries and had more than 300 people taken into custody.

One fan fell from the top tier of a stand at the Estadio Libertadores de America in the Avellaneda neighborhood of the Argentine capital while a stun grenade was one of the items thrown by spectators.

As objects were thrown at a section of a home’s supporters, violence broke out at half-time.

Home fans then appeared to be attacking visiting supporters early in the second half, with some supporters being beat and stripped by opposing fans.

Nothing qualifies as a lynching, “. Nothing,” Chile’s president Gabriel Boric said on social media.

“What transpired in Avellaneda between Independiente’s and Universidad de Chile’s fans is wrong in too many ways, from the supporters’ verbal abuse to the organization’s apparent irresponsibility. Those accountable must be found by justice.

Players left the field in the second half with the Chilean side leading 2-1 on aggregate with the game level at 1-1.

Conmebol, the country’s top soccer league representative, claimed the game had been postponed due to “the lack of security guarantees from the local club and local security authorities.”

Additionally, it stated that the investigation would be sent to its disciplinary committee and that the case would be referred to its judicial bodies.