Two dead fans at the Copa Libertadores

Two football fans in Chile were killed when they apparently tried to climb over a barrier on their way to the stadium in Santiago.

11 April 2025

From: dpa

The accident occurred before the Libertadores Cup group match between the capital club Colo Colo, featuring former Bundesliga player Arturo Vidal, and the Brazilian team from Fortaleza. The match was abandoned in the 70th minute after riots.

According to local authorities, a group of fans attempted to enter the Estadio Monumental and tore down a protective fence. When police stopped them, a crush ensued, and the fence collapsed. One of the victims died at the scene, the other in the hospital. It remains unclear whether a police car was involved, the report added.

The match was suspended in the 70th minute. © APA/afp / JAVIER TORRES

The South American football governing body Conmebol regretted the deaths of the two fans and expressed its condolences.

Vidal tries to reassure fans

In the 70th minute of the match, home fans began throwing objects onto the pitch. It is unclear whether these incidents were related to the events prior to kickoff.

The Fortaleza players sought shelter in the locker room. Meanwhile, the Colo Colo players, including former Leverkusen and Bayern Munich player Vidal, tried to calm the fans. Referee Gustavo Tejera from Uruguay eventually sent all players to the locker room. The match was later abandoned with the score at 0-0, according to the governing body Conmebol. The Copa Libertadores is the South American equivalent of the European Champions League.

Keywords Soccer Chile death