November 7 – All Uruguayan domestic league football was suspended at the weekend after the death of a 21-year-old Penerol fan shot by rival Nacional supporters in September.
“Following the regrettable death of young Hernán Fioritto, AUF has decided to suspend all its activities programmed for the weekend,”,said the Uruguayan FA on Twitter.
Fioritto, 21, and two others were targeted in Santa Lucia, 30 kms from Montevideo, by rival supporters who wanted to steal their club scarves. The Penerol fans were celebrating the club’s 125th anniversary.
One of those attacked recovered the following day, a second was hospitalised for a month while Hernan died at an intensive care unit in a Montevideo hospital on Friday from injuries suffered.
Fifteen suspects are currently being held with Rafael Fernandez, deputy chair of the national federation, saying it would be a weekend of “mourning and reflection”.
“As important to all Uruguayans as football is, there is nothing more important than the life of a human being and young football fan. We have to think and reflect on what is the limit of passion, admiration and feeling for a football club.”
Penarol said its flags would fly at half mast and that players would wear black armbands until the end of the year .
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