Football Violence Reveals South American Rivalries’ Cultural Fault Lines, Watch Video

A second leg Round 16 match of the Copa Sudamericana wrestling match being played between Independiente (Argentina) and Universidad de Chile (Chile) at construct of Libertadores de America in the capital of Buenos Aires today, had ended up in a match riot and its suspension. The match had to be abandoned in the 48th minute where violence emerged with both teams tied at 1-1, aggregate score over the two legs standing at 2-1 in favor of Universidad de Chile.

How did things get chaotic?

The game turned chaotic soon after resuming play when Chilean fans started launching stones, bottles, seats as well as throwing in a stun grenade allegedly at home fans. Things soon turning ugly as how Independiente fans broke out and got into the away block beating and stripping some of the visiting fans who described this as both shocking and brutality. Police officers had a hard time reasserting authority after introducing about 650 cops and more than 150 civilian guards. Eventually around 90 people were arrested and over 300 fans of Universidad de chile detained in relation to the riots.

What do the Directors say about the Football Violence?

Director of UC executive, Daniel Schapira, criticised security preparations, at the sheer nearness of opposing fan blocks with no substantial delineation. He pointed to the incident as highlighting in the general social and cultural rifts which then burst through football violence.
The consequences have drawn an outcry on massive changes to the stadium safety procedures in South America. The continental CONMEBOL governing body has canceled the match and submitted it to its Disciplinary Committee, and the Chilean president Gabriel Boric denounced the violence and promised to support the injured people and those still in custody and demanded justice.

The incident is being referred to as El Desastre de Avellaneda by both the press and the security agencies, thus recalling the football related violence in the area, as this issue has already happened more than once. Its legal, sporting and the societal repercussions will cause a wave throughout south American football in the weeks to come.

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