Multiple injuries were reported after Chivas fans fought police this last weekend.
In case you missed it, Mexican soccer suffered a HUGE black eye this weekend. During the Tapatio Derby between Chivas and Atlas, this time being played at the home of Atlas, Chivas supporters engaged in a running battle with Guadalajara police in the upper terraces of the stadium. According to Reuters, the Chivas folks managed to outnumber the police and several police officers were seriously injured, including two suffering serious but non life threatening injuries. Approximately 30 civilians were injured and were being treated at local hospitals after the match.
Reaction from the club, the Mexican Federation, and the local government has been swift, and hard line. First off, Chivas has announced that they will ban ALL supporter groups from their matches indefinitely and with immediate effect. This includes this weekend's coming Superclasico with Club America to be played at Chivas's Omnilife Stadium. The statement on this issue also says that ALL MEMBERS of credentialed supporter groups are banned as well. According to Soccerly, The FMF is seriously considering banning all supporter groups from all clubs in the wake of this incident.
Guadalajara officials are none too pleased with events either. They have closed Estadio Jalisco, home of Atlas, and prohibited it from hosting soccer matches until further notice. 17 arrests have already been made in connection with the violence, and both Chivas and the local police are working on rounding up anyone else involved as well.
This derby has long had a reputation for violent incidents, especially involving Chivas "ultras" who puff out their chests and announce that they take pride in such things, again, giving real supporters a bad name. Chivas and Atlas shared Estadio Jalisco until recent times when Omnilife stadium was built to host Chivas.
This kind of thing has no place in soccer and just gives people who are against the sport more ammunition to use against it. Anyone who thinks that this is "cool" or that it's the right way to "support your club" should never be allowed through the gates of a stadium. Check out the video below for footage of the incident, but be cautioned that it's rather graphic.
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