Two teenagers, 13 and 18, die in Chile after fans and police clash ahead of Copa Libertadores match
- Colo Colo were taking on Brazilian outfit Fortaleza in the Copa Libertadores
- The game was abandoned after two fans tragically died ahead of kick off
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Two teenage football fans tragically passed away after police and supporters clashed ahead of Chilean side Colo Colo’s match against Brazilian outfit Fortaleza in the Copa Libertadores.
The shocking incident took place after police were attempting to block between 100 and 150 fans from entering Colo Colo’s Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile.
Photos later showed chaotic scenes outside the stadium, which included fans throwing stones at riot police who fired back with water canons as they attempted to control the disorder.
It was subsequently revealed that the two fans who died were an 18-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy.
The game had started, before it was abandoned in the second half with the score level at 0-0 after fans invaded the pitch, having become aware of the tragedy that had occured before kick off.
The situation surrounding the two deaths is not yet completely clear, but local prosecutor Francisco Morales told Chilean outlet Emol that an investigation was already underway into whether a police car was involved.
Two teenage football fans tragically passed away after police and supporters clashed ahead of Chilean side Colo Colo’s match against Brazilian outfit Fortaleza in the Copa Libertadores
Police were attempting to block between 100 and 150 supporters from entering the stadium
The game was 0-0 before it was abandoned after fans invaded the pitch in the second half
He said: ‘At the moment, what is known is that one of the bars crushed these two youngsters with a greater weight, a force that could be attributable to different causes.
‘And all of them are being investigated as possible working hypotheses to determine the final cause of these youngster’s deaths.’
He also added that the two fans were among a group ‘of at least a hundred’ who he alleged ‘had attempted to break down the fences in an attempt to gain entry to the Monumental Stadium.
‘We are working with all the technical resources available, including the cameras on site, to determine how the events unfolded,’ he added.
Meanwhile, police general Alex Bahamondes revealed a police officer had been charged in regards to the case and that the incident was being investigated in further detail.
‘Approximately 150 people entered (the stadium) with a sledgehammer and overflowed the fences surrounding the security perimeter,’ he told Chilean outlet TVN.
Police had attempted to control the disorder outside the ground in the build-up to the clash
Fans had clashed with police ahead of kick off before the disorder continued afterwards
He also added that the vehicle involved in the tragedy was ‘a police vehicle, which supposedly participated to maintain public order, but there is no certainty about whether that was the case.’
Meanwhile, CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, said: ‘CONMEBOL deeply regrets the death of two fans near the Monumental Stadium before the start of the match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza Esporte Clube.
‘We express our deepest condolences to their families and loved ones. We accompany you in this difficult moment.’
Several clashes between fans and police continued in the streets after the game was abandoned and Colo Colo subsequently confirmed the tragic deaths of two of their fans.
