A soccer match is suspended in Colombia after a fan assaulted a player

They attack a soccer player on the pitch in Colombia 1:29

(CNN) --

A Colombian first division soccer match was suspended Sunday after a fan ran onto the field and assaulted a player, who then chased the offender and knocked him to the ground.

Right after the referee blew his whistle to start the match between Deportes Tolima and Millonarios, a fan stormed the field and hit Millonarios player Daniel Cataño, a former Tolima player, from behind.

Daniel Cataño (in blue) playing for Millonarios in November 2022. (Daniel Garzon Herazo/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

Cataño then ran after the fan in retaliation and tackled him to the ground, which resulted in the referee showing Cataño a red card.

Video footage showed the fan being escorted by the police, but Millonarios decided that he would not continue the match, which was being played at the Tolima stadium, because he believed that the safety of the players could not be guaranteed.

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"Given this situation and considering the risks inherent to the show and the difficulty of guaranteeing the safety of the players, it was decided that it was not prudent to compromise their integrity," the club said in a statement.

“These arguments were shared with the Police Commander, the arbitration team and the delegates of Dimayor [the governing body responsible for the first two divisions of Colombian soccer].

Millionaires is emphatic in pointing out that the priority is the safety of the players and members of the coaching staff, as well as that of all those who attend the sports scene.

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“Acts of violence must be firmly rejected.

We appreciate the understanding and solidarity of our fans.”

Daniel Cataño from Millonarios is attacked by a fan during a match with Deportes Tolima.

(From lavozembajador/Twitter)

In a statement released on Monday, Dimayor said that he “rejects any act of violence that occurs on or in the immediate vicinity of the pitch.

“Therefore, it ratifies its position of repudiation of the acts of intolerance that occurred yesterday at the Manuel Murillo Toro stadium, which led the refereeing body to definitively suspend the start of the match.

"Such facts have already been brought to the attention of the Championship Disciplinary Committee, the only disciplinary body with legitimacy to know and resolve the conduct described in the reports and establish whether or not they constitute disciplinary offenses," added Dimayor.

Following the incident, Tolima said in a statement: “We appreciate the understanding and patience you have shown at the stadium.

We ask to be attentive to our channels to receive official information.

The club has not issued a statement since then and CNN has contacted Tolima for comment, asking if it plans to punish the fan.

The local government secretary, Milton Restrepo, told local media that the fan will face sanctions but did not give more details about what they would be.