A man who was involved in the violent incidents in Saturday’s Liga MX game in Santiago de Queretaro was handed into police by his mother.
The woman, who said she was “heartbroken”, recognised her son through widely circulated videos on social media of the clashes between supporters during Queretaro’s match against visiting Atlas at Estadio Corregidora.
The game was suspended in the 62nd minute after violence in the parlay bola stands spilled onto the pitch, and 26 people were injured in the clashes while police arrested 14 individuals, including the person who was brought in by his mother.
“The authorities came to my house and he [the son] wasn’t there,” she said. “The police told me that I had the option to give him in if he communicated with me for his and our own good. He arrived a while ago and I spoke to him and I told him what the situation was.
“He didn’t say anything, accepted everything and he told me yes so here [at the crime investigation police department] we are.
“I’m heartbroken, I’m crushed but here I am and I’m with him,” she added.
– Liga MX: What has changed after Queretaro-Atlas violence?
– Alexander: Why it’s time for Liga MX to ban ultras for good
The individual in question was examined by doctors at Queretaro Prosecutors’ Office before being transferred to the San Jose el Alto penitentiary.
More than 400 videos of the incident have been made available to authorities to identify aggressors and those that initiated the brawl. The prosecutors’ office have appealed for help in identifying 14 other individuals suspected of being involved in what was described by the country’s media as “the darkest day of Mexican football”.
Of those injured, one person remains at Queretaro’s General Hospital while the rest have been discharged.
Mexican coach Javier Aguirre was among those shocked by the ugly scenes in Queretaro.
“It was horrifying,” Aguirre, who was recently at the helm of Mexican club Monterrey, said. “I’ve been in professional football for 45 years, I’ve never seen anything like it and I’ve been in many places.”
Those arrested are expected to face charges of violence in a sporting event and attempted homicide. Those found guilty will also be handed lifetime stadium bans. Mexico football authorities have punished Queretaro, who will be forced to play their home games behind closed doors for a year while a three-year ban has been handed to their supporters groups.