Rapids in the stadium
Libertadores Cup: Two fans die before broken game
Libertadores Cup: Two fans die before broken game
04/11/2025, 6:20 p.m.
Before a group game of the Libertadores Cup in Santiago, fans apparently push on a fence into the stadium – with tragic consequences. Two people are killed in trying. The game with ex-Bundesliga star Arturo Vidal will be canceled later after riots.
Two young football followers died in Chile when they apparently tried to overcome a barrier fence on the way to the Stadium in Santiago. The accident occurred before the group game of the Libertadores Cup between the Colo Colo capital club with ex-Bundesliga professional Arturo Vidal and the Brazilian team from Fortaleza. The game was canceled after riots in the 70th minute.
According to the local authorities, a group of fans wanted to penetrate the Estadio Monumental and tried to tear down a protective fence. When the police prevented them from doing so, the information said that the fence had fallen over. One of the victims died at the scene, the other in the hospital. According to media reports, the dead are an 18-year-old woman and a 13-year-old boy.
It is checked whether a police car may have run over the victims. The public prosecutor said that the crew of a armored police vehicle would be investigated. According to Security Minister Luis Cordero, the officials were temporarily suspended from duty.
Ex-Bayern star Arturo Vidal must calm down
The South American football roof association Conmebol regretted the death of the two fans and expressed its sympathy. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was also shocked. “I am deeply dismayed by the tragic incidents in front of the Libertadores game between Colo Colo and Fortaleza in Santiago de Chile, in which two people were killed and injured,” he wrote on Instagram. “The FIFA condemns the violence in the context of the game mentioned. As we have often said – there must be no violence in football.”
In the 70th minute of the game, local fans began to throw objects on the field. It is unclear whether these incidents are related to the events before the kick -off. The players from Fortaleza were looking for protection in the changing room. Meanwhile, the professionals of Colo Colo, among them, tried to calm the fans of the former Leverkusen and Bayern professional Vidal.
Referee Gustavo Tejera from Uruguay finally sent all the players into the cabin. Later the game was finally broken off at 0-0, as the Conmebol Association announced. The Copa Libertadores is the South American counterpart to the European Champions League.
