59 injured in clashes after Colombia’s cup final, seven police officers injured

At least 59 people were injured in clashes between football fans during Colombia’s cup final in the city of Medellin on Wednesday evening, authorities said.

Unrest broke out at the end of the match, with Atletico Nacional beating fellow Medellin side Deportivo Independiente Medellin 1-0.

Footage of the riots shared on social media showed dozens of supporters from both sides entering the pitch of the Atanasio Girardot stadium and hurling projectiles.

Riot police were deployed to restore order.

Medellin’s security secretary Manuel Villa said 52 fans were being treated for injuries.

Seven officers were also injured, police said.

No arrests have been reported.

Villa said authorities were reviewing CCTV footage of the disturbance to identify the perpetrators.

The violence marred celebrations among the 43,000-strong crowd that gathered at the stadium.

The ceremony to award Atletico Nacional the Copa Colombia trophy and the players their medals was canceled due to the unrest.

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In Colombia, visiting fans are generally prohibited from attending matches between major teams to avoid incidents.

But Medellin City Hall had decided to allow fans of Atletico Nacional – the visitors of Wednesday’s match – to attend the match, to promote peace in football.

Mayor Federico Gutierrez called those involved in the violence «criminals» and «misfits.»

At least 150 fans have been killed in violence in Colombian football since 2008, according to independent research.

There are no official figures on the issue.

Published on December 18, 2025