38 Argentine fans held on charges of vandalism

Published Oct. 24, 2012 8:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

Thirty-eight fans of Argentine club Colon have been held on charges of vandalism that took place during a match against Paraguay club Cerro Porteno.

Prosecutor Cristian Bernal said Wednesday the fans damaged restroom areas in the stadium and shattered car windshields around the stadium.

''The bathrooms were totally destroyed,'' Bernal said. ''The organization was not good. That has to be said.''

Video showed wash basins and toilets ripped from their moorings. Outside the stadium, several fans with bloody skulls walked around as military-style vehicles tried to restore order.

Police said they confiscated knives and marijuana, and reported finding a stolen backpack on one of the buses transporting the Argentines.

The violence took place Tuesday night in a Copa Sudamericana match, which Cerro won 2-1 to eliminate the Argentine club from the tournament. The match was delayed 20 minutes in the second half when fighting broke out in the stands.

Colon players Diego Pozo and Maximiliano Caire were both sent off because the referee said they interfered with police attempting to control the crowd.

Cerro President Juan Jose Zapag told the Argentine news agency Telam that the Argentines ''destroyed everything.''

Fan violence is common in Latin America with battles often breaking out between rival hooligan gangs known as barras bravas.