A football match in Colombia had to be suspended after mass violence broke out in the stands, reportedly leaving 20 people injured.<br /><br />Atletico Nacional and Atletico Junior were in the second half of their Prima A clash when fights between the two sets of fans caused the match to be halted.<br /><br />After Marino Hinestroza netted to make it 2-0 to the hosts, away supporters appeared to break into the home section.<br /><br />Once it became clear that a mass brawl had broken out, referee Nolberto Ararat decided to pause the match with 55 minutes on the clock, and it did not restart.<br /><br />Reports have suggested that several of the 20 fans who had been harmed were taken to medical centers near the Atanasio Girardot Stadium.<br /><br />According to El Colombiano, many of the injured were also treated in the lower tier of the stadium by the Red Cross.<br /><br />Following the horrific scenes of violence, Medellin's Secretary of Security, Manuel Villa, chastised the fans involved.<br /><br />'Football should be a celebration of peace,' said Villa. The culture of football is a collective commitment.<br /><br />'But if someone doesn't understand that, they have no place in this celebration: those masquerading as fans who create these situations and act outside the law are not fans, but criminals and should be treated as such. Irresponsible!<br /><br />'There will be sanctions, and measures will be taken as necessary.'<br /><br />Footage of the brawl captured from the stands suggests that one visiting fan wielded a knife on Nacional supporters.<br /><br />As the chaotic scenes worsened, fans in the area could be seen dashing away from the melee in the upper tier, attempting to make their way down to the stand below.<br /><br />The brawl even caused some fans to take to the pitch in fear before riot police intervened in an attempt to halt the fights.<br /><br />Colombian media outlet El Heraldo has since reported that stun grenades could be heard going off in an attempt to disperse crowds.<br /><br />The stadium was eventually evacuated by the police with a new date for the fixture unknown at this time.
