First Sanctions Imposed Following Turmoil in Avellaneda

Reports from Argentina indicate that the Agency for the Prevention of Violence in Sports (ApreViDe) has issued the first penalties against Independiente and Universidad de Chile due to the violent incidents that occurred during their Copa Sudamericana match. While Conmebol’s Disciplinary Commission is still in discussions in Paraguay, authorities in Buenos Aires have announced immediate consequences affecting the fans of both teams.

Independiente has seen over 40 fans identified as being involved in the attacks on visiting supporters at the Libertadores de América stadium, resulting in indefinite bans from the stadium. On the other hand, Universidad de Chile will face a more extensive punishment: their fans are banned from attending away matches in the province until December 31, 2027.

ApreViDe’s statement detailed that Chilean fans damaged bathrooms, set a seat on fire, and threw debris towards local fans, which led to retaliatory actions from Independiente’s supporters, escalating the situation further. Officials described the atmosphere during the incident as hostile and uncontrollable.

Meanwhile, Conmebol’s disciplinary process is progressing. On Tuesday, both clubs presented their cases to the commission. Independiente argued that the match’s disruption was due to the actions of visiting fans and highlighted that Conmebol issued its safety guidelines for ticket sales only 24 hours before the game. Universidad de Chile acknowledged that a small group of its fans caused trouble but asserted that the home club was responsible for overall security, claiming that both Independiente supporters and local police provoked their fans.

A final decision from Conmebol is anticipated in the coming days and may include both sporting and financial penalties.