Guadalajara players claim attack by fans

Guadalajara players say they were attacked by Internacional fans after their defeat in the Copa Libertadores final on Wednesday.

Players said midfielder Marco Fabian De la Mora was punched by fans who entered the field to celebrate Internacional’s 3-2 victory, which gave the Brazilian club the title of Latin America’s most important club competition. The alleged attack led to a quick scuffle between players from both teams.

“What happened is that a fan entered the field and hit our player,” Guadalajara coach Jose Luis Real said. “That’s what caused the problem. It shouldn’t have happened.”

Some players were seen throwing punches while others tried to intervene to keep the altercation from escalating at the Beira-Rio stadium as fans celebrated Internacional’s triumph on the stands.

“They have to respect us,” Guadalajara striker Adolfo Bautista said. “That’s not how they should treat us here. That’s why we were upset.”

The Mexicans said police and organizers should have done something to keep the fans from entering the field after the match ended.

“There was a lack of security,” De la Mora said. “It was a shame.”

The Guadalajara players had to be escorted by police as they headed to receive their runner-up medals.

There had been a problem before the match, too, as Bautista apparently ignored the Brazilian national anthem and warmed up on the field while the rest of the Guadalajara players lined up.

Bautista apparently was upset that the Mexican anthem was cut short, but he was heavily booed by Internacional fans nearly every time he touched the ball. He also was booed when he received his medal.

Guadalajara, known as Chivas, was trying to become the first Mexican team to win the Copa Libertadores since the nation accepted the invitation to join the competition in 1998. Cruz Azul had been the other Mexican club to make it to the final, losing to Boca Juniors in 2001.

Chivas received a first-round bye as compensation for being forced to pull out of the 2009 tournament because of the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, which kept opponents from traveling to the North American nation.

August, 19, 2010, AP