Approximately 100 individuals were taken into police custody in Argentina on Thursday, following violent confrontations between fans of the Independiente soccer club and supporters of the University of Chile. The clashes left 19 people injured, with two of them in serious condition.

Witnesses reported that some of the injured sustained stab wounds.

In response to the “seriousness of the events,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric condemned the “unacceptable lynching of Chileans” and announced that he would be sending his Interior Minister, Alvaro Elizalde, to Argentina.

“We will defend the rights of our citizens without neglecting the responsibilities determined by the courts,” he stated on the social network X.

The match was halted in the 48th minute due to unrest in the stands at the Libertadores de América stadium, located south of Buenos Aires, with the score level at 1-1 in this Copa Sudamericana game.

The incidents unfolded when Chilean fans began hurling projectiles, including seats and a homemade bomb, towards the lower and side stands occupied by Argentine fans, who retaliated by throwing them back, as observed by an Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporter.

In the midst of the chaos and without any intervention from security forces, Argentine fans escalated the situation by climbing to the upper stands to assault the Chilean supporters.

Social media images depicted fights involving sticks and batons.

One Chilean fan jumped from the upper stands when cornered.

As reported by José Antonio Vieira-Gallo, the Chilean ambassador to Argentina, the individual is out of danger because the roof cushioned his fall.

The Chilean Football Federation criticized the “passivity” of stadium security, while President Boric highlighted the “clear irresponsibility in the organization.” At least 650 police officers and private security personnel were needed to maintain order both inside and outside the stadium.

“They were removing items from the restrooms and throwing them. The problem apparently started from one pile,” remarked Independiente president Nestor Grindeti.

The security minister for the Buenos Aires province, Javier Alonso, held the competition’s organizer, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), accountable.

“The police indicated clearly that it was necessary to suspend the match. Conmebol should have acted promptly in suspending the match when it was evident that tensions were high,” he explained to Infobe.

“Unlike other matches, there was no private security barrier to control the visitors’ movements, especially towards the lower court,” Alonso added.

In a statement on Thursday, CONMEBOL declared that it would “act with the utmost firmness” to hold those responsible accountable.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged “the competent authorities to impose appropriate sanctions on those responsible for these horrific acts.”

The Argentine prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation.

Inspectors are conducting examinations at the stadium and have requested surveillance footage, a source informed The Independent.

This incident adds to a pattern of violence and unrest in South American football. Just in April, two young men lost their lives during riots in Chile when fans attempted to break into a stadium in Santiago.

News