More than 100 fans were arrested after violence erupted during a Copa Sudamericana match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile, leaving at least 20 people injured, one in critical condition. Images showed fans jumping or falling from the upper deck, a fan collapsing after being hit in the head with a stick, and several others covered in blood and trying to evade attackers. The match at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda was canceled. Argentine police reported the incident began when Universidad de Chile fans tore up seats and restrooms and threw blunt objects toward the lower section. Police and private security were attacked; police said they did not intervene to control the disturbances to prevent greater damage and instead warned fans via loudspeakers. CONMEBOL opened an investigation and FIFA condemned the violence, stating that violence has no place in soccer.
Images showed two fans jumping, or falling, from the upper deck of the stands to escape the attack, and another collapsed after being hit in the head with a stick. Several other fans, some in their underwear, were covered in blood and trying to evade the attackers. The violence led to the match -- which was played Wednesday night at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, a province of Argentina's capital Buenos Aires -- being cancelled.
According to Argentine police, the incident began when Universidad de Chile fans, located in the upper stands, tore up seats and the stadium's restrooms and threw blunt objects toward the lower section, where the home fans were located. Police and private security personnel were also attacked. The police did not intervene to control the disturbances, arguing that is was "preventing a greater damage," according to the official report. Instead, they warned Chilean fans to stop their behavior through the loudspeakers.
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