Tensions reached a tipping point as Veracruz fans clashed with Tigres fans at the conclusion of Friday night’s Liga MX opener.
Following Tigres’ 3-0 win at the Estadio Luis “Pirata” Fuente, Veracruz fans senselessly rushed to attack the visiting Tigres fans.
¡Se volvieron locos! brutal golpiza a aficionados de Tigres, explota "Tuca" y Gignac con la policia de Veracruz @AztecaDeportes pic.twitter.com/C6p8m9XFbz
— Edgar Armendariz (@earmendarizm) February 18, 2017
Tigres players watched over, urging police to stop the violence against their own set of fans. Tigres coach Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti can be seen screaming at police while Andre-Pierre Gignac tries his best to calm his startled manager.
Así se desató la violencia en el "Pirata" Fuente #Veracruz al finalizar el @ClubTiburones vs @TigresOficial #LigaMX pic.twitter.com/eNEriKO0Se
— xeu deportes (@xeudeportes) February 18, 2017
Amongst the tumult, Tigres and Mexico national team player Jesus Dueñas suffered a nasty cut on his arm.
This is the worst scenes of violence suffered in Liga MX in some time. Veracruz as a club, though, has seen plenty of controversy, as owner Fidel Kuri Grajales is a former member of Mexican congress for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Kuri has openly attacked members of media in the past and even the former director of Mexico’s referees committee.
Kuri and Co. are now expected to face punishment from the Mexican federation, with a stadium ban likely in the cards as a consequence of the violence caused by the laxed security inside the venue.