CONMEBOL imposes closed-door matches on Colo Colo after deadly Copa Libertadores incident

CONMEBOL provisionally banned fans from attending Colo Colo matches while it deliberated on the final sanctions. Photo: Reuters

Chile's Colo Colo will have to play five home games behind closed doors and five away matches without visiting fans, CONMEBOL said on Wednesday, after two fans were killed earlier this month in a crush during a Copa Libertadores match.

The incident occurred on April 10, when home fans attempted to force their way into the Monumental Stadium in Santiago ahead of Colo Colo's Group E match against Brazilian side Fortaleza.

The match was abandoned after 70 minutes following a stampede where a 13-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman were crushed to death by a collapsing fence.

The disciplinary unit of the South American football’s governing body had provisionally banned fans from attending Colo Colo matches while it deliberated on the final sanctions.

The Santiago-based team have also been fined $80,000, and CONMEBOL awarded a 3–0 victory to Fortaleza for the suspended second matchday fixture of the group stage of South America's top club tournament.

The result leaves them bottom of the group on two points, two behind third-placed Fortaleza. Colombia's Atletico Bucaramanga are leaders with five points, one ahead of Argentine side Racing Club.