A Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 clash between Argentina’s Independiente and Chile’s Universidad de Chile was abandoned on Wednesday night following violent scenes that left at least 10 people seriously injured and over 300 arrested, according to local reports.
The violence erupted during the match at Estadio Libertadores de América in Buenos Aires, with tensions boiling over between rival supporters. A stun grenade was reportedly thrown, and chaos escalated after home fans allegedly invaded the away section in the second half, assaulting Universidad de Chile fans.
Graphic scenes showed visiting supporters being chased, beaten, and even stripped by rival fans. One individual fell from the top tier of the stands during the chaos.
The match, tied 1-1 on the night with Universidad de Chile leading 2-1 on aggregate, was initially suspended in the second half as players left the pitch for their safety. South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, later confirmed the game had been officially abandoned due to “lack of security guarantees” from both the host club and local authorities.
CONMEBOL also stated that the incident had been referred to its disciplinary committee for further investigation.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric strongly condemned the violence, calling it unacceptable. “Nothing justifies a lynching. Nothing,” he posted on social media. “What happened in Avellaneda is wrong on so many levels—from the violence to the clear organizational failures. Justice must identify and prosecute those responsible.”
President Boric added that his government’s immediate priority is ensuring the wellbeing of affected Chilean nationals and making sure the rights of those detained are upheld.
