The long-awaited return of spectators to Nemesio Camacho Stadium in Colombia's capital was marred by violence as rival fans clashed during Tuesday night's match between the local team Santa Fe and visiting Atletico Nacional of Medellin.
The Bogotá Metropolitan Police said two fans and four cops were injured. Four rioters were arrested, but were released hours later.
The venue's surveillance cameras captured the moment Santa Fe fan Edison Romario was savagely beaten by at least five Atlético Nacional supporters.
Romario suffered brain injury and remains hospitalized at Meredà Hospital. Two other people were also injured and taken to area medical facilities.
Mayor Claudia López announced Wednesday that Julián Mateo Molina, one of the individuals who assaulted Romario, had turned himself in.
Molina appears in the video jumping over a row of seats at Nemesio Camacho Stadium, also known as 'El CampÃn,' and stomping on Romario's head while he was lying on the ground.
Julián Mateo Molina (pictured left with the white and green striped jersey) approaches Edison Romario (pictured in the red shirt lying over the seat) as fans of Atlético Nacional attacked him Tuesday night during a match at the home stadium of local club, Santa Fe, in Bogotá, Colombia. Romario, who was diagnosed with a brain injury, was one of six people who were hurt during the clash before the end of the first half. The game resume with Atlético Nacional winning 1-0
Edison Romario was rushed to Meredà Hospital on Tuesday night. He suffered a brain injury and remains hospitalized
The game was the first after 17 months of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, permitting about 8,500 fans at El CampÃn, Bogota's main soccer venue, though some other stadiums around the country have hosted fans at games since mid-July.
López, who was in attendance, announced it would also be the last game with fans for a while due to the disturbances. She said spectators would again be barred indefinitely at El CampÃn and the smaller Techo stadium in the capital.
'So many dreams of returning to CampÃn and they do this. Unacceptable!' the mayor tweeted. 'We rejected it and condemn it!'
Supporters of Atlético Nacional attack Edison Romario, a fan of Santa Fe, at El CampÃn stadium in Bogotá, Colombia, on Tuesday night. The game was the first after 17 months of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, permitting about 8,500 fans at El CampÃn, Bogota's main soccer venue, though some other stadiums around the country have hosted fans at games since mid-July.
Colombian police help a woman over the fence as supporters of the Santa Fe and Atlético Nacional teams clash inside the El CampÃn stadium in Bogotá, Colombia, on Tuesday night. The stadium welcomed fans for the first time in 17 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no fans will be allowed going forward
The rioting began shortly before the end of the first half when fan clubs from Atlético Nacional invaded an area where Santa Fe supporters were sitting.
Many of the fans then invaded the field, forcing a delay of about 50 minutes.
League president Fernando Jaramillo and other officials considered suspending the game, but allowed it to proceed due to 'a security issue, which sounds absurd,' Colombian news outlet Noticias Caracol reported.
'But it was a matter of backup (law enforcement agents) arriving, that we could control the situation outside,' Jaramillo said.
Atlético Nacional eventually beat Santa Fe 1-0.
Julián Mateo Molina turned himself in to Bogotá, Colombia, authorities for his role in a riot at El CampÃn stadium on Tuesday night. Still and video images captured him beating a fan
Julián Mateo Molina is photographed assaulting a defenseless Edison Romario during a clash between fans of the local team, Santa Fe, and visiting club Atlético Nacional at El CampÃn stadium in Bogotá, Colombia, on Tuesday