At least fifty-nine people were injured during violent clashes between rival fans at the Colombia Cup final in Medellin, following Atletico Nacional’s 1-0 victory over local rivals Deportivo Independiente Medellin. The unrest erupted at Estadio Atanasio Girardot, the home stadium shared by both teams.

Chaos Erupts After Final Whistle

Following Atletico Nacional’s win in the second leg on Wednesday, fans invaded the pitch, with some wielding flares and fireworks. Riot police were quickly deployed to restore order, but the violence resulted in injuries among spectators and officials. Among the injured were seven police officers.

The trophy presentation for Atletico Nacional was cancelled due to safety concerns.

Stadium Damage and Pyrotechnics

Local newspaper El Colombiano reported severe damage to the stadium:

• Seats and turnstiles were ripped out
• Sections of the pitch were burned
• The match start was delayed by 14 minutes due to poor visibility caused by pyrotechnics in the stands

Authorities also reported the seizure of over 120kg of pyrotechnic material, along with weapons and flares from fans.

Official Responses

Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez strongly condemned the violent acts:

“Anyone who went to the stadium to attack, destroy or incite fear will be held accountable under law. We will not allow a few to damage what belongs to everyone.”

Police commander William Castano explained the necessity of force to control the crowd:

“It was necessary to apply the graduated use of force, to help prevent the occupation of the pitch by the fans, to control outbreaks of public order disturbances, and to guarantee the safety of citizens attending the event.”

Medellin’s Secretary of Security, Manuel Villa, emphasized that the security measures themselves were not at fault:

“Here, security did not fail; what failed was the behaviour of those who chose violence.”

Fans Allowed Despite Usual Restrictions

Typically, away fans are banned from attending major football matches in Colombia to prevent violence. Authorities in Medellin had made an exception for the Colombia Cup final, permitting supporters from both sides to attend in an effort to promote peace in football. Unfortunately, the decision did not prevent clashes between rival fans.

Looking Ahead

Local authorities have promised that those responsible for the violence will face legal consequences, and measures will be taken to restore safety and order at the stadium. The incident has sparked renewed discussions about fan violence in Colombian football and the use of pyrotechnics in stadiums.