The second leg Copa Sudamericana round of 16 Independiente and Universidad de Chile was suspended early in the second half, with the score tied at 1-1 and the Chileans leading the series 2-1 on aggregate.
CONMEBOL confirmed the definitive suspension following the extremely serious incidents that occurred at the Libertadores de América stadium, where a pitched battle broke out between fans.
What triggered the chaos?
It all began with aggression from the visiting section : U. de Chile fans threw seats and sticks and lit small fires. Tensions escalated when Independiente fans stormed the visiting section , leading to direct clashes.
Scenes of explicit violence were reported, with serious injuries and more than 90 arrests by security forces.
Reaction of the authorities
Uruguayan referee Gustavo Tejera decided to suspend the match in the 48th minute, just after the second half had begun. Minutes later, CONMEBOL officially announced the suspension , citing a complete lack of safety guarantees for players and fans.
The organization announced that the situation will be analyzed by the Disciplinary Committee , which will determine the corresponding sanctions for the clubs involved.
The match up to the suspension
U. de Chile had taken the lead in the 10th minute thanks to a goal from Lucas Assadi , but Santiago Montiel equalized for El Rojo in the 27th. With that partial result, the Chileans remained ahead in the series thanks to the 1-0 advantage they had earned in the first leg.
The second half had barely begun when the referee stopped the match following the violent incidents.
What can happen now?
Severe sanctions from CONMEBOL are expected for both Independiente and Universidad de Chile for the events that occurred inside the stadium. Possibilities include disqualification for both teams, fines , loss of home advantage, or playing behind closed doors in future international matches.
