Two Chilean fans were hospitalized and several arrested on Wednesday night after violence erupted during the matchup between Independiente and Universidad de Chile. 

The Copa Sudamericana match was the second leg of their round of 16 face-off and a key duel for both teams, after a narrow 1-0 win for the Chilean side in the first leg — but it was quickly marred by violence.

From kickoff, some Chilean fans on the second level of the south stand harassed and threw objects at the Independiente fans sitting right below them. Some later reported that they had been hit with stones and bags filled with excrement. Despite calls for security to intervene, the match continued.

Violence ramped up in the second half, as Universidad de Chile fans started to remove seats from the stands and throw them over the edge. A stun grenade was also thrown into the section where the local fans were standing, prompting the match to be suspended as the Chilean fans were asked to leave the stadium.

Several refused, prompting members of the Independiente barrabrava (a violent organized fan group) to break into the stand where the Universidad de Chile fans were located.

Images went viral of the Independiente barras, as the members are known, assaulting and harassing the Chilean fans who remained on the stand, hitting them with sticks and forcing them to strip. Video footage appeared to show a fan hanging from the edge of the stands being forced by the barras to let go, falling several meters to the ground below. 

Chilean ambassador to Argentina José Antonio Viera-Gallo confirmed that two fans suffered injuries so serious that they require surgery.

Condemnation from Boric

Chilean president Gabriel Boric condemned the events, saying what happened was “wrong in many respects, from the violence in the stands to the evident irresponsibility from the organizers” and called for “the judiciary to find those responsible.”

Independiente President Néstor Grindetti was quick to distance the club from the events.

“[What happened] is regrettable and despicable,” he told press after the events. “They broke off parts of the bathrooms and threw them over the edge. It was unjustified violence.”

Grindetti claimed “logical safety measures” were taken and placed the blame on Universidad de Chile.

“The Chilean club should be penalized and Independiente should be released from liability. We are not accustomed to this type of behavior; ours is exemplary,” he added.

Universidad de Chile president Michael Clark responded that “it’s not the time to go hunting for who to blame” and added that the Chilean club had “no say in any security matters.”

Chilean Independiente players react

Midfielders Felipe Loyola and Pablo Galdames, two Chilean players representing Independiente, were particularly shocked by the events.

“What a regrettable situation, it’s a shame what happened today. This level of violence cannot be tolerated,” wrote Loyola, who had visiting relatives in the stands.

He criticized security for failing to respond, and argued “this isn’t football, sport isn’t violence.”

His feelings were echoed by Galdames, who said that at times like this “the color of shirts becomes irrelevant.”

“The most important thing is the health of those who were hurt,” he added. “We never have any rights over the person next to us, nor are we better than them for wearing a different kit.”

What comes next

South American football confederation CONMEBOL announced the cancellation of the match on Thursday, meaning it is highly unlikely to be continued. In the same vein, the organizing body announced that an investigation into the events will start.

The most recent precedent is the matchup between Chile’s Colo Colo and Brazil’s Fortaleza in the group stage of the 2025 Copa Libertadores. The match was canceled after two local fans died at the stadium entrance and the fan club entered the field of play.

Conmebol awarded the Brazilian team a 3-0 victory, while the Chileans were sanctioned with five home games behind closed doors and a further five games without away fans, in addition to a US$80,000 fine.