The Copa Libertadores match between defending champions Flamengo and Independiente Medellin in Colombia was abandoned on Thursday due to crowd disturbances.
Home fans lit flares and threw objects onto the pitch shortly after kick-off at Medellin’s Atanasio Girardot stadium.
With the score at 0-0 after five minutes played, the referee ordered the players to return to the changing room and the stadium was evacuated.
ESPN reporter Lily Nascimento, who was present at the stadium, described the unruly scenes.
“The fans had already started throwing flares,” she said. “One of them landed practically inside [Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín] Rossi’s goal. Then they started throwing more and more. That’s when our team’s equipment was hit.”
The backpack of an ESPN cameraman was struck by a flare. The home supporters had threatened to invade the pitch.
“When the chaos started, the crowd began to approach and it looked like they were going to invade [the pitch],” Nascimento added. “It was already a moment of panic because it seemed like they were going to invade right next to us.”
South American football governing body CONMEBOL called off the Group A encounter shortly after.
The home fans were protesting against the club’s management and their team after Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Aguilas Doradas saw their side finish 10th in the domestic competition.
A big banner displayed at the stadium on Thursday read: “Executives and players, traitors!”
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Flamengo have travelled back home to Brazil to prepare for Sunday’s league game at Gremio hoping CONMEBOL will award them the win.
“Obviously, we expect to win these three points because the responsibility is not ours,” Flamengo’s director of football José Bono said.
“The rules are clear: the home team could not guarantee security.”
