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Chaos at Colombia’s top game as 1,400 fans take to the pitch and ATTACK players and coaching staff causing the game to be halted…with Deportivo Cali striker Teofilo Gutierrez ‘beaten and kicked’ by his own supporters
- A top Colombian game was halted after fans stormed onto the pitch
- The match between Deportivo Cali and Cortuula was stopped after 81 minutes
- Supporters attacked players and coaching staff who tried to rush off the pitch
- Deportivo Cali striker Teofilo Gutierrez and manager Mayer Candelo were among those attacked
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A top clash in Colombia was halted after 1,400 fans stormed the field and attacked players and coaching staff.
Wednesday’s journey from Deportivo Cali to Cortulua degenerated into chaos in the 81st minute of the game as a large crowd of fans poured onto the pitch at the Estadio Doce de Octubre.
Supporters – most of whom were fans of Deportivo Cali – began verbally and physically abusing players and staff.
While some players were able to flee to safety, others were less fortunate because they couldn’t get off the field in time.
The sun reported that Deportivo Cali striker Teofilo Gutierrez was ‘kicked and beaten’ by his own supporters.
Manager, Mayer Candelo is also said to have been injured in the attacks, with a video showing him being led away by security – who, along with the police – struggled to deal with the intruders from the pitch.
Deportivo Cali has since released an official statement asking local authorities to intervene to prevent a similar incident from happening again in the future.
About 1,400 fans stormed the field during Deportivo Cali’s match with Cortuua in Colombia
Deportivo Cali striker Teofilo Gutierrez has been targeted by his own supporters on the pitch, while the club’s manager Mayer Candelo is said to have been injured in the attacks.
Fans confront Gutierrez with reports he was ‘beaten and kicked’
Police and security struggled to contain the huge crowd that invaded the field
The statement read: “The Cali Sports Association, the Executive Committee, President Luis Fernando Mena, professional staff, officials and associates strongly reject the aggression, intimidation and violence experienced by our team during the match against Cortuua.
“It clearly condemns any violent action against our players and coaching staff.
“We respectfully ask the government and sports authorities to intervene to prevent a future tragedy that mourns our sport.”
Cortuula, meanwhile, released their own statement saying they have identified the fans who will take to the field during the match, which they will make available to local authorities.
Fans stormed onto the pitch 81 minutes into their game away from Cortulua – the match was halted and ended in a 2-0 win for the hosts
Deportivo Cali fans are frustrated with the club’s poor form which has left them at the bottom of the Primera A category table – with just eight points in their 13 games so far
Colombian player Nicholas Benedetti, a former Deportivo Cali player who now plays for Mexico’s Mazatlan, also condemned the attacks.
In a post retweeted by the Colombian side, Benedetti said: “Violence is never the way and will never be justified.
“No one goes out to lose a match or hurt the institution. There are many ways to express yourself and make people feel like things are not going well, but never respect people or their physical integrity.”
The match was classified as a 2-0 defeat to Deportivo Cali, who are bottom of the Primera A category ranking – with just eight points in 13 games.
It is a huge contrast to the 2021 season in which Deportivo Cali won their tenth title.
Deportivo Cali condemned the attacks on social media and called on authorities to act to prevent something like this from happening again in the future