On Wednesday night, soccer experienced one of its most troubling moments after disturbing and emotional incidents took place during the CONMEBOL Sudamericana match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile. FIFA president Gianni Infantino addressed the situation publicly.
Through social media, Infantino released a statement in response to the events in Argentina, which left a significant scar on the sport and served as a reminder of what must never happen again.
Infantino stressed that such scenes have no place in soccer, emphasizing that the game must remain a space of respect, integrity, and passion for competition — not violence. He acknowledged the gravity of the situation and called for unity within the global soccer community to ensure these actions are not repeated.
“I strongly condemn the shocking violence which led to the cancellation of the Copa Sudamericana last-16 second-leg match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile in Buenos Aires,” Infantino said. “Violence has no place in soccer — players, fans, staff, officials and everyone who enjoys our beautiful game should be able to do so without fear.”
He went on to underline that proper measures will be taken regarding this situation. “From everyone at FIFA, our thoughts are with all the innocent victims impacted and we expect the relevant authorities to hold those responsible for these barbaric acts to account.”
What happened in the Independiente vs Universidad de Chile match
Independiente faced Universidad de Chile in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 on Wednesday, August 20. However, the match had to be suspended during the second half due to violent clashes in the stands. CONMEBOL later confirmed the cancellation of the game, citing a “lack of security guarantees.”
The problems began in the first half but escalated dramatically after halftime. Universidad de Chile supporters, positioned in the upper section of the stadium, threw “pieces of masonry, brooms, and parts of bathroom fixtures” toward Independiente fans seated below. They also hurled “coins, stones, fireworks, broomsticks, and various projectiles.”
With little visible police intervention, Independiente’s barra brava stormed the visiting section to confront Universidad de Chile fans directly. Reports described brutal fights, people being stripped and beaten, and even individuals falling — or being thrown — from the upper tier to the lower stands.
Referee Gustavo Tejera initially halted play when the situation spiraled out of control and some fans invaded the pitch. Stadium announcers later ordered Universidad de Chile supporters to leave the venue so the match could continue. Both teams retreated to the locker rooms to wait out the evacuation, but conditions only worsened. Ultimately, the suspension was made permanent, and the game was declared canceled.
What decision did CONMEBOL take regarding the match?
More than an hour after the suspension, CONMEBOL issued an official statement. The governing body’s Competitions and Operations Department announced that “due to the lack of security guarantees provided by the host club and local authorities to ensure the continuity of the match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile in the Copa Sudamericana 2025 round of 16, the match has been canceled.” The statement also confirmed that “the case will be referred to CONMEBOL’s judicial bodies for further decisions.”