Confrontation between violent fans of Atletico Nacional and Junior took place in the stands of the Estadio Atanasio Girardot
In the 60th minute of the soccer match between Atletico Nacional and Junior, during Matchday 10 of the Colombian League, violent clashes erupted between fans in the stands of the Estadio Atanasio Girardot.
The situation escalated so severely that the police reported more than 20 injuries, many of them caused by stabbings, as violent supporters from both teams were seen wielding knives.
The unrest started at the 56th minute, shortly after the home team scored their second goal (Roman and Hinestroza being the scorers). Around 300 Junior de Barranquilla supporters began fighting with Atletico Nacional fans.
In response, the local fans reacted violently, defending themselves in a chaotic scene. The level of violence prompted the referee to suspend the match at the 60-minute mark.
Violence spread onto the pitch
Those severely injured were immediately treated in the stadium before being transferred to nearby hospitals.
The sense of insecurity inside the stadium was so intense that the violence spread to the field, forcing players from both teams to run for safety in the locker rooms.
The unrest in the stands quickly spilled over to the exterior of the stadium, further increasing tensions as fans fled to avoid being caught in the violence. To regain control, the police had to use tear gas.
Fans present during the fight shared multiple videos on social media, showing individuals wielding knives and stabbing other fans.
The violence reached such extreme levels that Win Sports, the broadcaster of the match, was forced to cut the live transmission after journalists were attacked.