What was meant to be a peaceful day of football turned into a tragedy. Just before the match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza, part of the second round of the Copa Libertadores, serious incidents occurred outside the Estadio Monumental, reportedly leaving two fans dead and several others injured.

Forced Entry Attempt Sparks Chaos at Stadium Gates

According to information from the Fiscalía Oriente, a group of supporters attempted to force their way into the Caupolicán sector, knocking down a perimeter fence at the stadium located in Macul. The situation quickly escalated, triggering a stampede. In response, personnel from the Public Order Control (COP) division of Carabineros deployed a tear gas vehicle to control the crowd.

Eyewitnesses and preliminary reports indicate that the vehicle may have run over two individuals who were already trapped under the collapsed fence as a result of the stampede. The victims, according to El Deportivo, were unofficially identified as an 18-year-old young woman and a 13-year-old boy. Both were transported to medical centers, but tragically died shortly after—one at the scene and the other later at a local clinic.

Match Suspended Amid Ongoing Legal Investigation

As the match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza was underway, news of the fatalities spread among the local crowd, leading to a pitch invasion. Given the severity of the events, the referee made the decision to suspend the match.

Francisco Mores, the prosecutor from the Fiscalía de Flagrancia Oriente, provided further details: “At approximately 6:30 p.m., a group attempted to enter the stadium without tickets. During that attempt, a stampede occurred, fences fell, and there were possible police maneuvers now under investigation.”

Regarding the police officer driving the tear gas vehicle, Mores clarified that the individual is currently considered a suspect but has not been detained. “We are analyzing security footage and compiling all available technical evidence to determine what exactly happened,” he added.