The 1-0 defeat of Colombia by Argentina in the Copa América final led to disturbances and left five people dead on Sunday night in various places in Bogotá and neighboring municipalities where thousands of people had gathered to watch the match.
"In Bogotá, in the early hours, there were five homicides, three of them associated with fights. Of these homicides, three arrests were made," added the acting director of the National Police, who detailed that most of the homicides were committed with bladed weapons.
One of the outbreaks of violence occurred in Parque de la 93, where a crowd had gathered to watch the match on giant screens, but after the defeat, fights broke out among some attendees and with the police.
Reports indicate a brawl between fans and clashes with the police in Parque de la 93 (north of Bogotá) following Colombia's defeat in the Copa América final.
Even before the start of the match, there were fights among attendees due to the larger-than-expected crowd. This, combined with the consumption of alcohol, led to brawls and arguments.
There were also brawls in the central square of Soacha, a municipality south of Bogotá, which forced the police to intervene. Some people reported on social media incidents of violence and excessive force by the officers who were trying to control the drunk individuals.
To prevent outbreaks of violence related to the match, authorities in Bogotá and other Colombian cities increased the police presence this Sunday and implemented operations to control alcohol consumption.
The mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, reported that to ensure security, surveillance in the city was reinforced with 2,500 police officers.
"The call is for respect so that we can enjoy this celebration in peace and with tolerance, so that we can enjoy and not have things to regret. It is a great responsibility for all of us," Galán stated on Sunday morning.