The Copa Libertadores match between Colombian side Independiente Medellin and reigning Brazilian champions Flamengo was cancelled due to incidents provoked by supporters of the Colombian club, as announced on Thursday night by the South American Confederation (Conmebol).
As the group stage match had just begun, the referee sent the players back to the locker rooms due to numerous lit flares, burnt objects, and projectiles thrown onto the field by Medellin fans. The supporters were protesting against the club’s leadership due to their team’s current poor results.
Usually strict measures
Almost 50 minutes after the interruption, local authorities ordered the total evacuation of supporters at the Atanasio Girardot stadium through loudspeakers. Conmebol then announced the cancellation of the match in a message posted on its X account.
In this type of incident, Conmebol generally takes strict disciplinary measures, in accordance with its regulations, which can extend to disqualifying the clubs involved and imposing heavy fines. “The responsibility does not fall on us, the home team was unable to ensure security,” said Flamengo’s sports director, José Boto, in a video recorded in the Flamengo locker rooms, who demanded the awarding of three points for the victory to his team. Flamengo won the 2025 edition of the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
