Bitter soccer rivalry descends into chaos as followers storm pitch and assault gamers
Football players were seen rushing down the tunnel as a bitter rivalry descended into chaos as fans rushed down onto the pitch and attacked players
Police clashed with football fans in Paraguay(Image: X)
A bitter football rivalry descended into chaos after irate fans stormed the pitch and attacked players. Cerro Porteno and Olimpia clashed in the Paraguayan Superclasico over the weekend, but the clash was overshadowed by the unsavoury scenes.
Romeo Benítez had doubled Olimpia’s lead in the second half, after Eduardo Delmas broke the deadlock, when the trouble started. Benítez celebrated in front of the home stand, causing projectiles to be thrown.
Police had to intervene as bottles and chairs were launched onto the pitch and the game was suspended for a few minutes as order was restored. However, problems quickly restarted.
The footage went viral on social media(Image: X)
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Viral footage on social media has shown the moment that fans spilled out onto the pitch and chased the Olimpia players at the Estadio ueno La Nueva Olla in Asuncion.
In the same clip, the Olimpia players can be seen trying to escape the fans by rushing down the tunnel at the other end of the ground – with a couple being caught in skirmishes.
Local reports suggest there were 32 arrests and two police officers were injured in the unsavoury scenes.
Fans could be seen charging onto the pitch(Image: X)
Earlier this year, violent clashes between fans and police caused the abandonment of their derby. On that occasion, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into the stands to try and regain control.
Fans and police officers were injured in the clashes, with David Torales, a spokesperson for a local hospital, saying the “officers sustained head injuries, lacerations, including possible stab wounds, and other injuries”.
“Police officers acted immediately to ensure the safety of those in attendance,” read a statement issued by local police.
It added that they are working to “identify those who instigated the conflict so that they may be sanctioned and barred from attending future sporting events”.
