Soccer team Atletico Nacional’s hardcore supporters group has been banned from attending any matches at Bogota’s El Campin stadium for six months, El Tiempo reported Thursday.
“Los del Sur,” a group who follow Medellin-based Nacional, will not be allowed to enter the stadium for the entirety of the Apertura Championship.
Colombia has run two soccer championships, the Apertura and the Finalizacion, in every calendar year since 2002.
The ban comes as a result of violent scenes last May when hooligans assaulted the police and attacked the TransMilenio station in front of the stadium following a match.
The riots spread to other sites, causing further damage to random cars, said Olga Lucia Velasquez, the government secretary of Bogota.
In addition to the Nacional supporters, 30 Millionarios fans have also been banned for the same time period after violence before and after a match Sunday February 6.
A Colombian senator only recently suggested that the stadium should be completely closed, amid threats that it may be necessary to “give up football in Colombia.”
