Colombia: Football Fans Attack María Camila Vergara and Sheyla Garcia

During a match between Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín, six journalists fell victim to violent fan attacks, sparking worries about press safety in sports venues. The police, alarmingly, did not step in.

Location: Colombia, Envigado
Date: December 3, 2023

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom are deeply alarmed and saddened by the recent attacks on María Camila Vergara and Sheyla Garcia during the football match between Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín in Envigado, Colombia. The violent actions of certain fans and the disturbing lack of police intervention are unacceptable and pose a serious threat to press freedom and safety. The targeted assault on these journalists, who were simply fulfilling their professional responsibilities, is an egregious violation of their rights. We urgently call on the Colombian authorities to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation into these incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. 

Violence broke out during a football match between Atlético Nacional and Deportivo Independiente Medellín, extending beyond the field to involve spectators and spilling over outside the stadium leading to the abrupt suspension of the game. Supporters of Atlético Nacional targeted six reporters, including Maria Camila Vergara from Teleantioquia and Sheyla Garcia from Win Sports, with verbal and physical assaults, harassment, and destruction of their equipment.

Some spectators threw water bottles at the field and at the Win Sports team, who were broadcasting the match live.

García shared a harrowing account of her experience, vividly recalling the moment when an enraged spectator launched a heavy water bottle towards her, narrowly missing her head, and later proceeded to issue death threats. 

Similarly, Vergara faced verbal and physical aggression. Outside the stadium, Vergara and her cameraman were insulted by passing fans while they were reporting. One fan struck the cameraman and damaged his equipment.

Despite pleas for help, the police present at the scene did not intervene.

Two ESPN journalists also faced harassment while preparing for a live broadcast outside the stadium. According to reporter José Alarcón, a group of Atlético Nacional fans surrounded them, insulted them, spat on them, and hit them in the face multiple times. The fans also attempted to steal their video camera and damaged one of its lights. Again, there was no police intervention.

The journalists, who were clearly identified by their media outlet's clothing and equipment, had to halt their work due to fear of further attacks. Only ESPN was able to continue its coverage, albeit with technical difficulties due to damage to its equipment.

The Antioquia Police have yet to provide an official response as to why they did not respond to the journalists' pleas for help. It is crucial that authorities take reports of attacks on journalists in sports arenas seriously and act promptly to prevent further violence. This is particularly important in light of the upcoming matches of the BetPlay League 2023-2, where journalists could be at risk of more attacks.

Regrettably, this is not an isolated incident. Noticias RCN journalist Viviana Llorente has been continuously receiving a barrage of intimidating text messages, and audio/video calls filled with sexist language and derogatory slurs since November 28. These threats emerged in response to the release of a trailer for her investigative report titled "Mortal Passion." The report focuses on the escalating violence in Cali, triggered by the theft of flags from the Barón Rojo Sur bar, which is affiliated with the América de Cali football team. Additionally, the RCN channel's headquarters in Cali has been adorned with banners displaying warning messages aimed at Llorente and the media organization. Due to these threats, Noticias RCN had to suspend the airing of the complete report in order to prioritize the safety and security of its staff.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with María Camila Vergara, Sheyla Garcia, and all other journalists who faced such harrowing experiences. The incidents vividly described by García and Vergara, including death threats and physical aggression, are deeply troubling. This level of hostility and violence towards journalists, who are clearly identifiable by their media outlet's clothing and equipment, is a direct attack on the freedom of the press. We urge the directors of Atlético Nacional and its fan groups to condemn violence against the press and to call for increased security measures at stadiums. Journalists must be protected and given the necessary assurances to carry out their work without fear of attack or retaliation. We also call on other Colombian professional football teams to echo this message. We demand that those responsible for these attacks are held accountable. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.