In a display of hostility, fans of Alianza Lima have orchestrated a hostile and ‘violent’ reception for the players of Universidad de Chile, ahead of their upcoming Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal clash.
Hours before the match, Alianza Lima supporters, presumably from the Comando Svr fan group, hung offensive banners in various parts of the Peruvian capital, reminding the Chilean team of the Avellaneda tragedy and its consequences. The banners not only attacked the Universidad de Chile team but also targeted CONMEBOL, the South American football governing body, for the decision taken after the Avellaneda incident.
Controversial Banners and Fireworks
The banners displayed messages such as «CONMEBOL, you sons of bitches, we also wanted to hit them» and «They cry on TV and still qualify.» This was a clear reference to the violent clashes that occurred between Universidad de Chile fans and Independiente supporters during the second leg of the Sudamericana round of 16 match in Avellaneda, Argentina.
But the hostility did not stop there. Alianza Lima fans also resorted to an old tactic to disrupt the rest of the Universidad de Chile squad, launching fireworks outside the Chilean team’s hotel, in an attempt to affect their pre-match preparations.
Avellaneda Tragedy Revisited
The Avellaneda incident, which occurred earlier in the Sudamericana campaign, saw Universidad de Chile fans become victims of brutal beatings at the hands of Independiente supporters. This tragic event has now become a point of contention, with Alianza Lima fans using it to taunt and antagonize their upcoming opponents.
CONMEBOL’s Controversial Decision
The banners also criticized CONMEBOL’s decision to allow Universidad de Chile to progress to the quarterfinals, despite the Avellaneda incident. This suggests that Alianza Lima fans feel a sense of injustice, believing that their team should have also been given the opportunity to advance in the competition.
The hostile reception and the reminders of the Avellaneda tragedy have set the stage for a highly charged and potentially volatile encounter between the two teams. As the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal approaches, the tension between the fans and the teams continues to escalate, promising a fiercely contested match with high stakes on the line.
