Chilean Derby Postponed After Deadly Copa Libertadores Stampede 2025 04 11
ReutersAPR 11
Two Soccer Fans Die in Stampede Ahead of Copa Libertadores Match in Chile
Above: Fences lying down on the street after a group of home fans tried to force their way into the stadium during the Copa Libertadores soccer match between Colo Colo and Fortaleza at the Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile, on April 10, 2025. Image copyright: Javier Torres/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
It's either police misconduct or their unpreparedness that caused the deaths of these two young people. At best, their failure to prevent fans without a ticket from storming the stadium caused a stampede that ultimately killed innocent fans that had nothing to do with that chaos. At worst, it was them who actually killed the two.
Narrative B
While an investigation has been launched to determine whether any police officer has contributed to this tragedy, it's crucial not to lose sight of where the primary responsibility lies: with the barrabravas. These criminal organizations once again created chaos, leaving authorities no choice but to intervene — and ultimately, their actions led to the tragic deaths of two young people.