Violence in the Stands Forces Abandonment of Independiente-Universidad de Chile Clash
A night of high stakes in the Copa Sudamericana devolved into chaos as the Round of 16 second-leg match between Argentina’s Independiente and Chile’s Universidad de Chile in Avellaneda was suspended and ultimately canceled due to severe violent clashes between rival fan groups.
The match, held at the Estadio Libertadores de América, was halted by Uruguayan referee Gustavo Tejera early in the second half. At the time of the stoppage, the score was tied 1-1. Following a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Santiago, Universidad de Chile was leading the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
Events on the pitch were tense, with Santiago Montiel of Independiente having equalized after an earlier goal from Universidad de Chile. However, the true drama unfolded not on the grass but in the stands.
According to multiple reports and harrowing images circulating from the stadium, the violence began when supporters in the visiting section, allocated to Universidad de Chile fans, began throwing projectiles, including seats and other debris, at the home fans located in a lower tier.
Más de 300 hinchas de Universidad de Chile detenidos por la Policía de la Ciudad, luego de los incidentes en la cancha de Independiente. pic.twitter.com/rwBtGHb0cL
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) August 21, 2025
The situation rapidly escalated, overwhelming stadium security. Shocking scenes showed widespread brawls breaking out, forcing police intervention to try and contain the violence. In response to the escalating danger and a clear lack of safety guarantees for players and spectators, the referee ordered the players off the field.
After a lengthy delay with no resolution in sight, the South American football confederation, CONMEBOL, officially announced that the match had been canceled. The governing body stated the decision was due to “the lack of security guarantees from the local club and local security authorities.”
Partido cancelado entre Independiente y Universidad de Chile. pic.twitter.com/hXB1PCPuoe
— CONMEBOL Sudamericana (@Sudamericana) August 21, 2025
The fallout has been immediate and severe. Argentine media outlets are reporting that as many as 90 arrests were made, with numerous injuries sustained by fans on both sides. The case will now be handed over to CONMEBOL’s disciplinary committee to determine the final outcome of the tie and to levy sanctions against the clubs and fanbases involved.
While the official ruling on which team will advance to the quarterfinals is pending, the cancellation of the match marks another dark chapter in the history of fan violence in South American football, overshadowing the competition itself and raising serious questions about stadium security protocols.
