Mob Attacks Referees After Chilean Amateur Final

A wild brawl caused serious injuries to officials after an amateur final in Melipilla. Fans charged onto the field and attacked the officials after a match between Baquedano and Pablo Lizama.

MELIPILLA — The final between Baquedano and Pablo Lizama had to be stopped many times during play, with fans coming onto the field and rough play among the problems for the referees. Once the game was called off, fans and players from Pablo Lizama attacked the officials.

One of the sideline officials lost a number of teeth after being kicked and punched by the surging group. The brawl included some of the women spectators as well, who threw sucker punches and kicks to head while the officials were already down.

The incident was captured on camera by those at the ground and can be seen in the video below. The video has been spread around the world, making news as far afield as Australia. The lack of sportsmanship and respect for officials has captured attention, to put it mildly.

Jorrit Smink, a former coach of the Melipilla Primera B side, told I Love Chile, “Unfortunately, football has too many players like this. In Holland, an assistant referee was murdered by some young players. The surprising thing is that the only people who work at FIFA are mafia types and complete idiots. That works from the top down.”

Incidents like this certainly do raise the question, “What the devil is wrong with these people?”

Fortunately, Smink has moved on from football, and is now one of three Dutch expats working to help Chilean skaters realize their Olympic dreams.