A dark day for soccer and sports in general, after witnessing images coming from South America, specifically from the Estadio Monumental in Santiago, where a clash between fans resulted in the deaths of two people before the Copa Libertadores match between Colo-Colo and Brazil’s Fortaleza.
Tragedy in the Copa Libertadores
According to local media reports, fans attempted to force their way into the stands minutes before the match began, leading to a confrontation with police and armored vehicles.
Based on the information, the tragedy occurred when units from the Public Order Control of the militarized Carabineros police tried to disperse the crowd by spraying high-pressure water.
This reportedly caused a perimeter fence to collapse, crushing the victims. For now, local media indicate that the fence fell on two young individuals with significant force, and the incident is under investigation.
The match started but was suspended
Despite these events, the match between Colo-Colo and Fortaleza began, but it was halted at the 72nd minute due to a pitch invasion that forced the Brazilian team’s players to flee the field in distress, as if running for their lives.
The match was ultimately canceled
CONMEBOL, South American football’s governing body, followed protocol to clear the stadium, and the match was officially canceled shortly thereafter.
Reports indicate that the incidents resulted in two deaths: an 18-year-old woman and a 13-year-old minor.
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