South American football experienced a night of chaos and tragedy at the Monumental Stadium in Santiago. What was supposed to be a Copa Libertadores matchday ended in the deaths of two fans and the suspension of the game between Colo Colo and Fortaleza due to incidents inside and outside the stadium.

Sister of One of the Victims Says She Had a Ticket

One of the deceased was an 18-year-old woman who was run over by a police vehicle near the stadium. Her sister, Bárbara Pérez, denied reports that she was trying to enter without a ticket.

“She had her ticket, her ID, everything in order. She wasn’t trying to sneak in,” she stated to local media, calling for justice for her sister and the 13-year-old boy who also lost his life amid the police operation.

According to her testimony, the young woman was with two friends when a police vehicle known as a "zorrillo," which deploys tear gas, ran over her. “Nicolás, her friend, tried to save her, but the vehicle hit her anyway,” Bárbara said, visibly shaken.

At the clinic, she was informed that her sister had arrived with no vital signs. “She was crushed, but I won’t give more details because it’s too painful,” she said, also criticizing the fact that the driver of the vehicle did not come forward or provide an explanation of what happened.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Francisco Morales stated that investigations are underway to determine the circumstances of the incident, including the possible involvement of the police vehicle in the tragedy. “A stampede caused a fence to collapse, and we are determining whether a police vehicle played a role in the fatality,” he explained.

Match Suspended Amid Chaos

The match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza, part of the second round of Group E in the Copa Libertadores, started with a packed stadium but had to be halted in the 72nd minute after Colo Colo fans stormed the pitch in protest over the deaths.

Fortaleza players immediately left the field, followed minutes later by the Chilean team. Although officials considered resuming the match without spectators, Santiago’s Presidential Delegation rejected the option for security reasons.

In the end, Conmebol decided to cancel the match, while clashes between fans and police continued outside the stadium. In an official statement, the organization expressed condolences to the victims' families.

From a sporting perspective, the draw left Colo Colo in third place in Group E with two points, while Fortaleza remained last with one. Atlético Bucaramanga leads the group with four points after defeating Racing, which holds second place with three.

What should have been a night of football ended in sorrow and tension in Santiago. Investigations are now underway to clarify responsibilities and determine whether police intervention was negligent in the deaths of the two young fans.