Soccer: Fans set fire to seats amid Chile protests
Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Rioting Universidad de Chile soccer fans light a fire in the stands while the coaches of both teams watch the game REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
Chilean football fans set fire to seats, pelted police with missiles and vented their anger towards President Sebastian Pinera during a Copa Libertadores match at the National Stadium on Tuesday amid continuing social unrest in the country.
The match between Universidad de Chile and Brazil's Internacional, the first of a two-leg qualifying encounter, continued as firemen fought the blaze on the terraces, South American media reported.
The match ended 0-0.
Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Riot police look on while security forces extinguish a fire next to Universidad de Chile soccer fans during the match REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
Chile was hit by a wave of unrest last year as people angry at inequality and shabby social services took to the streets.
The protests started up again last week after a police truck ran over and killed a fan of the Colo Colo club following a match against Palestino.
The killing prompted fans from rival clubs to unite in protest against what they say is brutal treatment of the Chilean police, known as the Carabineros.
Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Security forces extinguish a fire next to rioting Universidad de Chile soccer fans during the match REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
Several human rights groups accuse security forces of violations that range from rape to torture and undue force.
Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Security forces extinguish a fire next to rioting Universidad de Chile soccer fans during the match REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
(Reporting by Andrew Downie; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Soccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Universidad de Chile's Diego Carrasco in action with Internacional's Marcos Guilherme REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Universidad de Chile's Diego Carrasco in action REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Universidad de Chile's Luis del Pino in action with Internacional's Paolo Guerrero REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Internacional's Paolo Guerrero in action with Universidad de Chile's Diego Carrasco REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Universidad de Chile's Luis del Pino in action with Internacional's Paolo Guerrero REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Internacional's Paolo Guerrero in action with Universidad de Chile's Fernando De Paul REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Internacional's Damian Musto in action with Universidad de Chile's Diego Carrasco REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Internacional's Rodinei in action with Universidad de Chile's Jean Beausejour REUTERS/Edgard GarridoSoccer Football - Copa Libertadores - Second qualifying round - First Leg - Universidad de Chile v Internacional - Nacional Stadium, Santiago, Chile - February 4, 2020 Universidad de Chile's Diego Carrasco in action with Internacional's Paolo Guerrero REUTERS/Edgard Garrido
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