Colombian football once again witnessed a new act of violence in the stadiums, due to what happened between Atlético Nacional and Junior in Medellín on September 26, when the game was suspended due to fights between fans of both sides, leaving around 20 injured.
Due to this situation, the regulations of Dimayor and the Colombian Football Federation have been clear regarding this kind of situations, which affect the continuity of a match and the coexistence in the stands, as seen in the Atanasio Girardot stadium.
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It remains to be seen the report from referee Nolberto Ararat regarding what happened in the Antioquia capital, as it will be decisive for the Disciplinary Committee to make a decision about what will happen with the match and its result, since both clubs would fight for the points.
After the match was suspended due to violent acts, there is much anticipation regarding the decision that Dimayor will make regarding the result, as up to the 54th minute it was 2-0 in favor of Nacional, who was beating Junior with goals from Andrés Román and Marino Hinestroza.
Media outlets like Futbolred published that the rule states the following: “Clubs playing as home will be responsible for order and security in the stadiums and their surroundings before, during, and after the matches. Without prejudice to the responsibility they have regarding the improper conduct of their own fans, they will be responsible for any type of incidents, and disciplinary and directive measures may be imposed, unless they can demonstrate that there was no negligence on their part in organizing the match.”
The regulations of Liga BetPlay, in its article 67, states that if a game is suspended due to force majeure, it can resume at the point it was stopped with the current score, but the situation in Medellín is the opposite: “It will be considered that there is no force majeure if the suspension occurs due to the withdrawal from the field of one of the teams without authorization from DIMAYOR, or due to the conduct of the spectators or the lack of guarantees for the organization of the sporting event, established in the regulatory provisions.”
Meanwhile, the Disciplinary Code of the Colombian Football Federation could be beneficial for the green team, in case they lose points at the desk for being the home team at the Atanasio Girardot stadium, and this would occur if it is demonstrated that Junior fans are the main culprits.
Article 84, numeral 2, states that “clubs acting as visitors will be responsible for the improper conduct of spectators considered as their supporters, according to the degree of culpability that can be established. Spectators seated in the stands reserved for visitors are considered as supporters of the visiting club, unless proven otherwise.”
However, in article 83, subsection H, regarding “offenses punishable by defeat due to withdrawal or resignation”, it mentions that Junior would have an option to claim the points: “If due to the actions of the leaders of a club, municipal or departmental selection or due to a factor for which the club or organizer of the match is responsible, a match cannot be played or is ended prematurely at the referee’s discretion.”
Dimayor has the final say on what happens with the match, the sanctions against the clubs, fans, and the venue, as well as the team declared the winner, but there are also sectors that demand that points not be awarded to Nacional or Junior.