More than 100 Chilean fans arrested after violence in the stands during soccer match in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — More than 100 fans were arrested after violence erupted in the stands during a Copa Sudamericana match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile and left at least 20 people injured, one of them in critical condition, local authorities said Thursday.

Images showed two fans jumping, or falling, from the upper deck of the stands to escape the attack, and another collapsed after being hit in the head with a stick. Several other fans, some in their underwear, were covered in blood and trying to evade the attackers.

The violence led to the match — which was played Wednesday night at the Libertadores de América stadium in Avellaneda, a province of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires — being cancelled.

“I strongly condemn the shocking violence which led to the cancellation of the Copa Sudamericana match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile,” FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “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.”

CONMEBOL, the South America soccer governing body, said Thursday it was investigating the incident.

According to Argentine police, the incident began when Universidad de Chile fans, located in the upper stands, tore up seats and the stadium’s restrooms and threw blunt objects toward the lower section, where the home fans were located. Police and private security personnel were also attacked.

The police did not intervene to control the disturbances, arguing that is was “preventing a greater damage,” according to the official report. Instead, they warned Chilean fans to stop their behavior through the loudspeakers.

As the fans continued to throw projectiles, the match was suspended at halftime with the score at 1-1.

Just as the Universidad fans were leaving the stands, hooded Independiente supporters broke down doors to enter the visitors’ section. There, they attacked the visitors with sticks and metal bars.

Two of them, cornered, climbed over the side and either jumped or fell, according to images captured by witnesses’ cell phones.

One of them, identified as Gonzalo Alfaro, required surgery and is in critical condition, according to the medical report from the Fiorito Hospital in Buenos Aires. Eighteen other Chilean fans were hospitalized, most with multiple injuries.

“Nothing justifies a lynching. Nothing,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric said on X.

Local authorities reported that 125 fans of the Chilean club were arrested for assault and resisting arrest. Of those, 101 remained under arrest, according to the Chilean Foreign Ministry.

Boric instructed Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde to travel to Buenos Aires and stated that he would work to “protect the rights” of the affected Chileans.

It is the latest violent incident in South American soccer competitions. Last April, Chile’s Colo Colo was deducted points and received a financial penalty after two fans were killed during the match against Fortaleza of Brazil in the first round of the Copa Libertadores.

In recent weeks, there have also been reports of clashes between Argentine fans and police in stadiums in Brazil and Uruguay.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Fans of Argentina's Independiente attack a Universidad de Chile fan, right, after they stripped him of his clothing during a Copa Sudamericana round of sixteen second leg soccer match at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, Argentina, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Players of Universidad de Chile try to calm down their fans during a Copa Sudamericana round of sixteen second leg soccer match against Argentina's Independiente at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, Argentina, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

An injured fan of Argentina's Independiente appeals for help after clashes with Universidad de Chile fans during a Copa Sudamericana round of sixteen second leg soccer match at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, Argentina, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans of Argentina's Independiente hold metal bars during clashes with Universidad de Chile fans after a Copa Sudamericana round of sixteen second leg soccer match was suspended at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, Argentina, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Fans of Argentina's Independiente bang on a barrier during a Copa Sudamericana round of sixteen second leg soccer match against Universidad de Chile at the Libertadores de America stadium in Avellaneda, Argentina, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday asked lawmakers to approve reforms to the oil industry that would open the doors to greater foreign investment during her first state of the union speech less than two weeks after its longtime leader was toppled by the United States.

Rodríguez, who has been under pressure by the Trump administration to fall in line with its vision for the oil-rich nation, said sales of Venezuelan oil would go to bolster crisis-stricken health services, economic development and other infrastructure projects.

She outlined a distinct vision for the future, straying from her predecessors, who have long railed against American intervention in Venezeula. “Let us not be afraid of diplomacy” with the U.S., said Rodriguez, the former vice president who must now navigate competing pressures from the Trump administration and a government loyal to former President Nicolás Maduro.

The speech, which was broadcast on a delay in Venezuela, came one day after Rodríguez said her government would continue releasing prisoners detained under Maduro in what she described as “a new political moment” since his ouster.

On Thursday, Trump met at the White House with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, whose political party is widely considered to have won 2024 elections rejected by Maduro. But in endorsing Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president since 2018, Trump has sidelined Machado.

Rodríguez, who had a call with Trump earlier this week, said Wednesday evening on state television that her government would use “every dollar” earned from oil sales to overhaul the nation’s public health care system. Hospitals and other health care facilities across the country have long been crumbling, and patients are asked to provide practically all supplies needed for their care, from syringes to surgical screws.

The acting president must walk a tightrope, balancing pressures from both Washington and top Venezuelan officials who hold sway over Venezuela's security forces and strongly oppose the U.S. Her recent public speeches reflect those tensions — vacillating from conciliatory calls for cooperation with the U.S., to defiant rants echoing the anti-imperialist rhetoric of her toppled predecessor.

American authorities have long railed against a government they describe as a “dictatorship,” while Venezuela’s government has built a powerful populist ethos sharply opposed to U.S. meddling in its affairs.

For the foreseeable future, Rodríguez's government has been effectively relieved of having to hold elections. That's because when Venezuela’s high court granted Rodríguez presidential powers on an acting basis, it cited a provision of the constitution that allows the vice president to take over for a renewable period of 90 days.

Trump enlisted Rodríguez to help secure U.S. control over Venezuela’s oil sales despite sanctioning her for human rights violations during his first term. To ensure she does his bidding, Trump threatened Rodríguez earlier this month with a “situation probably worse than Maduro.”

Maduro, who is being held in a Brooklyn jail, has pleaded not guilty to drug-trafficking charges.

Before Rodríguez’s speech on Thursday, a group of government supporters was allowed into the presidential palace, where they chanted for Maduro, who the government insists remains the country’s president. “Maduro, resist, the people are rising,” they shouted.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez makes a statement to the press at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez, center, smiles flanked by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, right, and National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez after making a statement to the press at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)