Medellín fan violence prompts abandonment of Copa Libertadores game
The Copa Libertadores group match between Independiente Medellín of Colombia and Brazil's defending champions Flamengo was abandoned on Thursday after violent fan protests. Medellín supporters lit flares at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot and threw objects onto the pitch. The protests were against the upper management of the home club.
Referee Jesus Valenzuela stopped the match after just three minutes and sent both teams to the dressing rooms. Security forces intervened after Medellín fans tried to storm the pitch. As the situation did not calm down, South American confederation Conmebol abandoned the match at 0-0 after a stoppage of more than an hour.
Police then evacuated the stadium except for the away section. There were later clashes in the surrounding area, AS Colombia reported. There was severe damage to the stands and toilets inside the stadium.
Medellín risk the match being awarded as a 3-0 win to the Brazilians.