In the same way that on the last occasions in which a Chilean team must face an Argentine team on this side of the mountain range,
trans-Andean fans carry out situations of violence
.
This time, in the preview of the match that will be played at the
Malvinas Argentinas
stadium for the
Copa Libertadores
between
Godoy Cruz
and
Colo Colo
.
Hours before the match, in
Parque San Martin
, Chilean fans got into a brawl with each other, in full view of everyone and among the people who were spending the day.
The attack was replicated against people wearing Argentine team shirts.
Later, close to the start time, the conflict moved to the outskirts of the stadium,
in the Chilean entrance sector
.
The strong security operation to prevent confrontation between fans of both clubs was applied when the pushing and shoving of the Colo Colo public with the Mendoza Police began.
The conflict began when a group pushed one of the bars to enter the stadium
, despite the police cordon around the perimeter.
The arrival of the Infantry personnel allowed the riot to be defused with pepper spray.
The white claw leaving Colo Colo in a bad position, a classic pic.twitter.com/Q1xxjiSBrD
— FreeJordhy (@Freejordhy42) February 22, 2024
The situation, then, generated fights and outbreaks of violence were repeated in different sectors, which motivated the use of rubber bullets by the security forces to regain control in the area.
While the North stand seemed filled with Colo Colo fans, nearby there were still thousands of supporters waiting for entry.
On social networks,
some fans described the entry as "chaotic", with failures in the QR codes and mistreatment by the Police
against groups that did not participate in the excesses and were with family.
Search on the route
The arrival of the Colo Colo fans occurred mostly in buses.
At the Horcones customs post, the
Mendoza Police confiscated the buses and arrested several sympathizers for possession of drugs or weapons
.
"
Marijuana, chuzas, sharp elements,"
detailed Commissioner Mario Lucero, in statements to Radio Nihuil.
However, unable to identify the owners of the seized effects, the buses continued towards the capital of Mendoza.
At another border control, a person who had a criminal record was reported and was not allowed to enter the country.
Meanwhile, as part of the operation,
seven people were arrested for disturbances and violations.
"We have implemented a device from Horcones to Route 7, where they will then be escorted to the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium
," said Lucero, who also explained that the buses from the bar were delayed in Luján de Cuyo and
arrived encapsulated at the stadium, to avoid to move around the city in the preview.
Regarding security in the stadium and General San Martín Park, the Mendoza government assigned 950 uniformed personnel to the match, of which 800 will be inside the stadium during the match.