The Copa Libertadores match between defending champions Flamengo and Independiente Medellin in Colombia was called off on Thursday due to disturbances among the crowd.
Shortly after kickoff at Medellin’s Atanasio Girardot stadium, home fans ignited flares and threw objects onto the field.
With the match tied 0-0 just five minutes in, the referee instructed the players to head back to the locker room, and the stadium was evacuated.
ESPN reporter Lily Nascimento, who witnessed the events firsthand, described the chaotic scenes.
“Fans had already begun launching flares,” she recounted. “One even landed almost inside [Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín] Rossi’s goal. Then more began to fly onto the field, hitting our team’s equipment.”
The backpack of an ESPN cameraman was hit by a flare. There were threats from home supporters about potentially storming the pitch.
“As the chaos unfolded, the crowd started to move closer, giving the impression they were about to invade [the pitch],” Nascimento continued. “It was a moment of panic as it seemed they were approaching us.”
Shortly thereafter, South American football governing body CONMEBOL decided to cancel the Group A match.
The local fans were protesting against the club’s management and the team’s performance, having recently suffered a 2-1 home loss to Aguilas Doradas, resulting in their 10th-place finish in the domestic league.
A large banner displayed at the stadium read: “Executives and players, traitors!”
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Flamengo has returned to Brazil to prepare for their league match against Gremio on Sunday and is hopeful that CONMEBOL will award them the win.
“Naturally, we expect to be awarded these three points because the responsibility lies with them,” said Flamengo’s director of football, José Bono. “The regulations are clear: the home team failed to ensure security.”