Violence erupts at Colombia Cup final, leaving dozens injured
Violent clashes between supporters at the Colombia Cup final left 59 individuals injured on Wednesday evening in Medellin, reports BritPanorama.
The disorder erupted at Estadio Atanasio Girardot following Atletico Nacional’s narrow 1-0 triumph over city rivals Deportivo Independiente Medellin in the second leg of the competition. Among those hurt were seven members of the police force deployed to maintain order at the venue.
The two clubs share the stadium as their home ground, heightening tensions during the local derby. Riot officers were called in to regain control after spectators stormed onto the playing surface following the final whistle. Many of those who invaded the pitch were carrying flares and fireworks, which were ignited amid the chaos.
The stadium sustained considerable damage during the disturbance, with supporters tearing out seating and turnstiles. Patches of the playing surface were also scorched by the pyrotechnics. Local newspaper El Colombiano reported that the trouble began before kick-off, with the match delayed by 14 minutes due to smoke from fireworks affecting visibility across the ground.
Medellin’s mayor, Federico Gutierrez, issued a stern rebuke of those responsible, describing them as “misfits who only seek to generate violence.” He promised that perpetrators would face the full weight of the law and emphasized that anyone who went to the stadium to attack or incite fear will be held accountable.
Police commander William Castano revealed that officers confiscated weapons alongside the flares and fireworks, recovering over 120kg of pyrotechnic material from attendees. He indicated that a graduated application of force was necessary to prevent supporters from storming the pitch and to safeguard those in attendance.
Manuel Villa, the city’s security secretary, defended the authorities’ preparations, stating, “Here, security did not fail; what failed was the behaviour of those who chose violence.” This violence proved particularly embarrassing for officials, who had specifically allowed supporters of both teams to attend in an attempt to promote peaceful football, contrasting with Colombia’s usual practice of barring away fans from major fixtures.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of how deeply rivalries can ignite conflict, even in a sporting context that had aimed to foster camaraderie and shared enjoyment among fans.
