After the semifinal in the South American Championship between Uruguay and Colombia, things got completely out of hand in the stands.
Several Uruguayan players climbed up among the Colombian supporters, who allegedly harassed the players' families, and a big brawl broke out.
Ignacio Alonso, chairman of the Uruguayan Football Association, spoke to the press after the chaos:
The Uruguayan players had an instinctive reaction that is natural, which is to defend and protect the children who were in that area of the arena. The children witnessed attacks on women, parents, the closest family members and siblings of the players.
It's a paternal instinct that is natural and very rational given what was going on around them, says Alonso.
Colombia won the match 1–0 and will now face Argentina in the final, on Wednesday night Swedish time.
