The riots recorded this Saturday, August 22, at the El Campín stadium, during the match between Independiente Santa Fe and América de Cali, led the Bogotá authorities to initiate the corresponding actions to identify the fans who participated in the clashes, the invasion of the playing field, and the damages recorded within the sports venue.
The match, corresponding to the sixth round of the Liga BetPlay 2026-II, was stopped during the first half and the score remained 0-0.
The confrontation between some members of the fan bases of both teams moved from the stands to the playing field, after several fans entered the field, which forced the interruption of the actions and the removal of players and technical staff to safe areas.
The mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, referred to what happened through X and stated that the situation inside the stadium was controlled by the Police.
The mayor also informed that the authorities would work to prevent the violence from spreading outside the venue and warned that actions would be taken to determine responsibilities.
“What just happened at El Campín stadium is totally unacceptable,” said Galán, who explained through a video posted on X that during the events there was “field invasion, aggression between fans,” and destruction of stadium elements. The mayor added that the district administration will not allow these acts to go unpunished.
“We will not allow this to go unpunished,” the mayor stated, noting that he had given instructions to the Secretary of Government, Gustavo Quintero, who is part of the Football Commission, to present the information related to what happened and to advance the corresponding sanctions.
Galán also referred to the use that the sports venue should have and stated that “we will not allow the stadium to become a scene of violence.” In that sense, he indicated that El Campín “has to be a place of celebration, football, family, not aggression.”
The district authorities reported that the preliminary balance of the clashes was 17 people affected.
According to the information provided by the Secretary of Government to the Bogotá section of EL TIEMPO, among those affected were district officials and emergency teams who had difficulties carrying out their duties during the confrontation.
“Although the clashes were controlled, there were 17 affected, none seriously. This is not only condemnable in Bogotá, but we witnessed things that we will sanction,” Quintero explained in an interview with EL TIEMPO.
The official also pointed out that among the incidents to be reviewed is the impact on the medical mission and the teams responsible for attending the emergency. According to him, those carrying out these tasks had to take shelter due to the situation that occurred in the stands.
“For example, the medical mission and the district teams were affected. They were affected and could not attend to the situation at the exact moment because they had to take shelter,” added the secretary.
Quintero also spoke about the events through X and described the acts of violence recorded at El Campín as “totally unjustifiable.”
In his message, he explained that the clashes between fans put other people present at the venue at risk and that there were also aggressions against members of the district teams and logistics.
“The acts of violence that occurred today at El Campín are totally unjustifiable. Besides the clashes between the teams’ fan bases, which endangered the rest of the fans, district teams and logistics personnel who are part of the institutional framework supporting these events were also assaulted,” Quintero said.
The intervention of the National Unit for Dialogue and Maintenance of Order (UNDMO) was required due to the disruption of public order.
The Police carried out an operation inside the stadium to separate the groups involved and regain control of the areas where the clashes were occurring. Tear gas was also used during the intervention.
The Secretary of Government later reported that the situation had been controlled and that decisions related to those responsible and the consequences of the recorded events will be addressed within the Football Commission.
“The intervention of the UNDMO was necessary and the disruption of public order is now under control. However, we will not tolerate this type of behavior,” Quintero said in his post.
The district administration must determine the appropriate measures once the circumstances of what happened are clarified. The official added that the authorities will provide more information after advancing in the review of the events that occurred during the match.
“Within the framework of the Football Commission, the corresponding sanctions and measures will be determined. Bogotá has been a benchmark and an example for the whole country regarding good coexistence in football. As soon as the facts are clarified, we will provide more information,” Quintero said.
The incidents occurred in a match that had generated expectations due to the presence of América de Cali, who arrived as the leader of the standings, and Santa Fe, who was also facing its international participation in the Copa Sudamericana.
The team led by Pablo Repetto had just drawn 0-0 against River Plate in the first leg of the round of 16 of the continental tournament.
The match between Santa Fe and América ended 0-0, although the development of the match was interrupted by the clashes. The situation began with acts of violence in the stands and later some fans entered the playing field, which led the central referee to stop the actions while security conditions were restored.
The first reports during the match broadcast indicated that the clashes occurred after the space allocated to the visiting team’s fans was expanded.
Now, the identification of the fans who participated in the riots is part of the actions that the authorities will carry out.
LAURA NATHALIA QUINTERO.
LAST NEWS EDITORIAL.