Lima, Feb 6 (IANS) Angry fans swarmed the changing rooms and assaulted four players after Peruvian top-flight club Alianza Lima suffered a humiliating 0-4 defeat in the Libertadores Cup.
The incident took place Thursday as the supporters were irritated after Alianza were embarrassed by Argentina’s Huracan in their first-leg match for the first stage of the Libertadores Cup, the top South American club tournament, Tuesday, Xinhua reported.
“Between 24 and 30 people entered the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium and went to the changing rooms, where there was an attempt to beat up the players,” Interior Minister Daniel Urresti said.
Four players were assaulted, including winger Victor Cedron, who suffered a cut on the eyebrow and went to police to press charges.
Midfielder Miguel Araujo Tuesday slapped a fan who approached him to complain about the loss, while winger Christian Cueva launched into a tirade of insults against another disgruntled fan.
On Wednesday, Alianza’s official fan club, the “Southern Command,” told the players: “You have been warned. Now we’re going to see how tough you are.”
Both Araujo and Cueva were among those attacked Thursday, along with Uruguayan midfielder Gabriel Costa.
Araujo had apologized on Facebook for the fan-slapping incident, saying: “I’m human and I made a mistake.”