Bogota on Tuesday announced the cancellation of the upcoming super derby between Millonarios and Atletico Nacional after three fans were killed this weekend in soccer-related violence.
According to newspaper El Espectador, a former army official was murdered over the weekend after trying to defend his son from Millonarios soccer gangs. Furthermore, late Monday night and in early hours of Tuesday, Bogota hospitals received two Nacional fans who suffered fatal stab wounds allegedly inflicted by Millonarios fans.
“If there is no peace in the neighborhoods because of soccer, there cannot be soccer in the stadium. We are calling together a meeting of all the soccer fan leaders,” said Mayor Gustavo Petro in a series of messages posted on social network site Twitter.
No queremos un fútbol de un solo color, no queremos un fútbol de muerte. Queremos un fútbol de paz, multicolor, de inclusión juvenil
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) September 24, 2013
Government Secretary Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo said the Mayor’s Office canceled the match in order to prevent further violence.
“We don’t kill each other over soccer. Today we are in mourning and we cannot enjoy the games while our sons and fathers are being killed, ” said Jaramillo.
Sources:
- Asesinan a hincha de Nacional en Bogotá (El Espectador)
- Alcaldía de Bogotá cancela partido Millonarios vs. Nacional (El Espectador)
- Dos hinchas de Nacional asesinados durante la noche y madrugada en Bogotá (Noticias Bogota)
- Gustavo Petro Twitter