Football match in Colombia is suspended after terrifying mass brawl in the stands as fans 'wield knives and machetes - leaving 20 supporters injured'
A football match in Colombia had to be suspended after mass violence broke out in the stands, reportedly leaving 20 people injured.
Atletico Nacional and Atletico Junior were in the second half of their Prima A clash when fights between the two sets of fans caused the match to be halted.
After Marino Hinestroza netted to make it 2-0 to the hosts, away supporters appeared to break into the home section.
Once it became clear that a mass brawl had broken out, referee Nolberto Ararat decided to pause the match with 55 minutes on the clock, and it did not restart.
Reports have suggested that several of the 20 fans who had been harmed were taken to medical centers near the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.
According to El Colombiano, many of the injured were also treated in the lower tier of the stadium by the Red Cross.
Following the horrific scenes of violence, Medellin's Secretary of Security, Manuel Villa, chastised the fans involved.
'Football should be a celebration of peace,' said Villa. The culture of football is a collective commitment.
'But if someone doesn't understand that, they have no place in this celebration: those masquerading as fans who create these situations and act outside the law are not fans, but criminals and should be treated as such. Irresponsible!
'There will be sanctions, and measures will be taken as necessary.'
Footage of the brawl captured from the stands suggests that one visiting fan wielded a knife on Nacional supporters.
As the chaotic scenes worsened, fans in the area could be seen dashing away from the melee in the upper tier, attempting to make their way down to the stand below.
The brawl even caused some fans to take to the pitch in fear before riot police intervened in an attempt to halt the fights.
Colombian media outlet El Heraldo has since reported that stun grenades could be heard going off in an attempt to disperse crowds.
The stadium was eventually evacuated by the police with a new date for the fixture unknown at this time.
Atletico Nacional and Atletico Junior were in the second half of their Prima A clash when fights between the two sets of fans caused the match to be halted.
After Marino Hinestroza netted to make it 2-0 to the hosts, away supporters appeared to break into the home section.
Once it became clear that a mass brawl had broken out, referee Nolberto Ararat decided to pause the match with 55 minutes on the clock, and it did not restart.
Reports have suggested that several of the 20 fans who had been harmed were taken to medical centers near the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.
According to El Colombiano, many of the injured were also treated in the lower tier of the stadium by the Red Cross.
Following the horrific scenes of violence, Medellin's Secretary of Security, Manuel Villa, chastised the fans involved.
'Football should be a celebration of peace,' said Villa. The culture of football is a collective commitment.
'But if someone doesn't understand that, they have no place in this celebration: those masquerading as fans who create these situations and act outside the law are not fans, but criminals and should be treated as such. Irresponsible!
'There will be sanctions, and measures will be taken as necessary.'
Footage of the brawl captured from the stands suggests that one visiting fan wielded a knife on Nacional supporters.
As the chaotic scenes worsened, fans in the area could be seen dashing away from the melee in the upper tier, attempting to make their way down to the stand below.
The brawl even caused some fans to take to the pitch in fear before riot police intervened in an attempt to halt the fights.
Colombian media outlet El Heraldo has since reported that stun grenades could be heard going off in an attempt to disperse crowds.
The stadium was eventually evacuated by the police with a new date for the fixture unknown at this time.
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SportsTranscript
00:00A football match in Colombia had to be suspended after mass violence broke out in the stands,
00:10reportedly leaving 20 people injured.
00:12Atletico Nacional and Atletico Junior were in the second half of their Prima A clash
00:17when fights between the two sets of fans caused the match to be halted.
00:21Once it became clear that a mass brawl had broken out, referee Nalberto Ararat decided
00:25to pause the match with 55 minutes on the clock, and it did not restart.
00:30Reports have suggested that several of the 20 fans who had been harmed were taken to
00:34medical centers near the Atenejo Hierarzot Stadium.
00:38According to El Colombiano, many of the injured were also treated in the lower tier of the
00:42stadium by the Red Cross.
00:45Following the horrific scenes of violence, Medellin's Secretary of Security, Manuel
00:49Villa, chastised the fans involved.
00:52Footage of the brawl captured from the stands suggests that one visiting fan wielded a knife
00:56on Nacional supporters.
00:59As the chaotic scenes worsened, fans in the area could be seen dashing away from the melee
01:03in the upper tier, attempting to make their way down to the stand below.
01:07The brawl even caused some fans to take to the pitch in fear before riot police intervened
01:11in an attempt to halt the fights.
01:14Colombian media outlet El Geraldo has since reported that stunned grenades could be heard
01:18going off in an attempt to disperse crowds.
01:21The stadium was eventually evacuated by the police with a new date for the fixture unknown
01:26at this time.