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Violence ruins the public's return to Colombian soccer

2021-08-04T04:52:10.824Z


Amid scenes of bloody confrontations, the bars invade the field in the Santa Fe game against Nacional in Bogotá


Supporters of the Independiente Santa Fe and Atlético Nacional teams collide inside the Nemesio Camacho El Campín stadium during its reopening to the public after being closed by the covid-19 pandemic. DANIEL GARZON / AFP

There was no party. The expected return of the public to the stadiums in Colombia after more than a year of restrictions due to the pandemic was overshadowed this Tuesday by the violence unleashed by the so-called 'barrabravas' both in the stands and on the lawn of the El Campín stadium de Bogotá, during the match between Santa Fe and Nacional de Medellín, one of the most traditional matches in local football. It was the first match with fans in more than 500 days for the club from the capital.

At the end of the first half, which ended in a goalless draw, the fans of both teams clashed and invaded the pitch.

The police took long minutes to control the situation and reported in a preliminary balance two serious injuries, one of them with head trauma.

The unrest delayed the start of the second half of the match for about an hour, which ended with a 1-0 victory for the visitors.

Nacional's supporters force those from Santa Fe to leave the rostrum.DANIEL GARZON / AFP

A video in which it is observed how a Santa Fe fan is brutally attacked with fists and kicks in the head by at least five fans wearing the Nacional shirt - some hooded and wearing masks, which makes it difficult to identify them despite the images -, As well as the photos of the seats splattered with blood, they flooded social networks in what emerged at first as the most serious of several episodes.

“There is no right.

So much enthusiasm to return to Campín to do this.

Unacceptable!

We reject it and condemn it! ”, The mayor of the capital, Claudia López, who had been at the stadium to do the honor kick, but withdrew before the riots, wrote on her social networks.

"The entrance of the public to the stadiums is suspended," the mayor announced around midnight, after the meeting had ended, describing what happened as "unacceptable" and asking for the most severe sanctions.

What misfits and violent fans have done is unacceptable with Bogotá.


We transferred police reinforcements to organize a separate exit to avoid further clashes when evacuating the stadium.


Thus there are no guarantees to have an audience.

We will impose the most severe sanctions pic.twitter.com/hGTxAsJon5

- Claudia López 👍 (@ClaudiaLopez) August 4, 2021

Last May, when Colombia was going through its third wave of infections, the wave of protests against the government of Iván Duque ended up costing the country the headquarters of the Copa América, which was transferred to Brazil.

At that time, several Copa Libertadores club matches were played amid interruptions by tear gas that came from the street, in images that were broadcast live throughout the continent, but without an audience in the stands.

Police help Santa Fe fans leave the stands.

DANIEL GARZON / AFP

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Source: elparis

All sports articles on 2021-08-04

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