Violence in Chile: Boca fans attacked, blame a ‘revenge’ | OneFootball

Criminal acts, the theft of flags, and violent incidents affecting Xeneize fans took place near the hotel where the squad is staying.

The buildup to Boca Juniors’ international debut in the Copa Libertadores got off to the worst possible start. Near the hotel where the squad is staying in Chile, Xeneize fans were victims of a violent armed robbery before the match against Universidad Católica.

The incident occurred near the Pullman Vitacura Hotel, where the Argentine delegation is staying. What had been a festive atmosphere just hours earlier because of the team’s arrival turned into chaos when a group of criminals attacked a supporter and stole flags and personal belongings.

Armed criminals and suspicions of hooligan involvement

According to Chilean outlet AS, seven armed assailants, wearing clothing linked to Colo-Colo, intercepted a Boca fan and forcibly stole personal items from him.

Local media report that the attackers could be linked to hooligan groups from the Chilean club, in what would be a kind of retaliation for an incident that took place in 2023.

In that earlier incident, Universidad Católica supporters reported being attacked by Boca fans near La Bombonera when they tried to hang a flag representing their club.

One flag recovered as authorities seek to prevent further incidents

According to the information released, one of the stolen flags has already been recovered, and authorities are working to ensure the rest of the stolen items can be returned without triggering new conflicts.

For tonight’s match at Claro Arena, CONMEBOL authorized the حضور of around 2,000 Boca fans, in an operation that will now receive greater scrutiny after the reported incidents.

The episode raised alarms among organizers and security agencies on a day that was supposed to be a celebration of continental football but ended up being overshadowed by violence.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.