Medellín — The air outside Estadio Atanasio Girardot was still heavy with the echoes of a match cut short, an eerie silence where cheers once roared. Sebastián Arango, president of Atlético Nacional, stood at the forefront of a controversy that has shaken the core of Colombian football. His voice, steady but layered with the weight of responsibility, called out for justice, for clarity, and above all, for fairness. “The match was taken from us,” he declared. “But we will not stand by and allow these sanctions to go unchallenged.”
Atlético Nacional had just been hit with a series of severe penalties by the Dimayor Disciplinary Committee following the match against Junior de Barranquilla. A game that should have been defined by tactics and talent was instead marred by chaos in the stands, and Nacional is now fighting back—contesting not just the sanctions but the dangerous precedent they set for Colombian football.
Atlético Nacional’s Rejection of Dimayor’s Sanctions
Atlético Nacional, a club with a storied history and a passionate fanbase, found itself at the center of an unprecedented disciplinary ruling. After disturbances erupted during the September 26 match against Junior, leading to its suspension in the 56th minute, the Dimayor Committee handed down harsh penalties: a 0-3 forfeit, a six-game stadium ban, and fines totaling over 40 million pesos.
For Arango, these sanctions felt like more than just a punishment—they were an injustice. “We followed every security protocol,” he emphasized in a press conference. “We deployed 470 security personnel for the match, nearly the same as we do for finals. We did our part.” His words carried the frustration of a club feeling punished not just for an event beyond its control, but for the actions of opposing fans.
“Why,” Arango asked, “are we the ones facing the most severe consequences when Junior’s fans were the ones who started the conflict? How is it fair that the team whose supporters instigated the violence gets awarded the victory?”
Fight for Fairness and Football Integrity
At its heart, this battle is about more than just points—it’s about the integrity of the sport. In Arango’s view, the Dimayor ruling sends a dangerous message. “It tells people that violence can be rewarded,” he said, his tone one of disbelief. “If fans see that their actions off the pitch can decide the results of the game, we are no longer playing football. We’re playing something far more dangerous.”
And he’s not wrong. The events of September 26 are not an isolated incident. In 2022, similar disturbances involving Deportivo Cali fans led to pitch invasions, and in 2023, Junior fans once again caused chaos in a match against La Equidad. Yet, as Arango points out, the disciplinary responses to these incidents were inconsistent at best. “Why are the rules being applied so harshly now, when similar incidents received lighter punishments?” he asked, echoing the concerns of many in the football community.
Atlético Nacional’s Appeal: Seeking Justice at the Highest Level
Atlético Nacional isn’t just pushing back—they’re preparing for a long fight. The club has announced that it will use every legal avenue available to challenge the ruling, including an appeal to the Tribunal Arbitral del Deporte (TAS). Arango and his team believe that this is not just about reversing the sanctions, but about protecting the integrity of Colombian football as a whole.
“Nacional is more than a club—it’s a community, a family,” Arango reflected. “Our fans deserve better. Football deserves better.”
For many fans, this fight resonates on a deeper level. It’s a battle not just for points or standings, but for the soul of the sport they love. The prospect of playing six matches behind closed doors is a bitter pill to swallow, especially for a team that thrives on the passion and energy of its supporters. “Without our fans, we’re not the same team,” Arango admitted. “The stadium feels like home when it’s full of life, of passion. That’s what football is supposed to be.”
The Bigger Picture: Violence in Football and Its Consequences
At the core of this issue is a problem that extends far beyond Medellín or Barranquilla. Football, in Colombia and across the world, is increasingly grappling with the issue of violence among fans. From Europe to South America, stadiums have become battlegrounds where passions spill over into aggression, and too often, the sport itself is the casualty.
Arango’s frustration is a reflection of the wider footballing world’s growing anxiety over how to handle such incidents. “We need to ask ourselves hard questions,” he said, his voice taking on a more somber tone. “Are we doing enough to protect the game? Are we ensuring that violence isn’t rewarded, that the actions of a few don’t spoil it for everyone else?”
The club’s stance resonates with many in the Colombian football community who fear that Dimayor’s ruling may set a dangerous precedent. If Atlético Nacional’s appeal fails, what’s to stop similar incidents from occurring in the future? Could fan violence become a tactical tool, a way to disrupt matches and influence results?
What’s Next for Atlético Nacional and Colombian Football?
As Atlético Nacional prepares for what will undoubtedly be a drawn-out legal battle, one thing is clear: the club isn’t backing down. “We owe it to our fans, to our players, and to football itself to fight this,” Arango declared. The road ahead is uncertain, but for Atlético Nacional, this fight is about more than just a match—it’s about the future of the game.
As the dust settles and the appeals process begins, Colombian football watches closely. Will Dimayor reconsider its decision? Will Atlético Nacional succeed in their quest for justice? Or will this be remembered as the moment when violence, not football, became the deciding factor on the pitch?
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the heart of Colombian football beats on, even in the face of adversity.
