Online Reporter
A PREGNANT woman was carried to safety and others were covered in rubber bullet wounds as the Paraguayan Superclasico descended into a full-blown riot.
Chaos erupted between fans and police in the first half of the charged-up grudge match between bitter rivals Cerro Porteno and Olimpia on Sunday.
There were 30 minutes on the clock when violence in the stands spun rapidly out of control – and the game had to be abandoned.
As usual, the huge Asuncion derby was played at the national team stadium to cater for massive crowds and heightened security.
But authorities at Sunday’s fixture were overrun when fans stormed the police cordon.
One group of supporters even managed to steal a shield off one of the riot police officers and ‘displayed it like a trophy’, according to ABC.
Police responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas which forced fans in various parts of the stadium to flee.
Many stormed onto the pitch to find relief while Cerro Porteno players threw water bottles into the stands to help stave off the effects of the toxic gas.
One disturbing video shows fans grabbing hold of a police officer, dragging him down a set of stairs and kicking him repeatedly in the head.
A subsequent clip shows other supporters rushing to help that same officer back to his feet and lift him to safety.
Three police officers were reportedly rushed to a nearby hospital, with the severity of their injuries ‘unknown’.
ABC reported that a pregnant woman required emergency medical attention and ‘showed signs of collapse’ after getting caught in the tear gas cloud.
She was snapped being helped away from the scene with a shirt covering her nose.
One Olimpia fan said: “I came with my son. I wanted to give him the first Clasico of his life. How do I bring him back here again?”
A police investigation is now underway.
The Interior Ministry said: “Those responsible are in the process of being identified, and they will be handed over to the Public Prosecutor’s Office so that they receive exemplary sanctions and are not allowed to enter sporting events again.” – Sun
