The Americas

3 killed during Colombia's celebration of soccer title

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Fans of Colombia's Atletico Nacional cheer for their team as fireworks light up the sky before Copa Libertadores final match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Medellin, Colombia, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (The Associated Press)

Fans of Colombia's Atletico Nacional cheer for their team as fireworks light up the sky before Copa Libertadores final match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Medellin, Colombia, Wednesday, July 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) (The Associated Press)

Colombia's celebration of victory in the South American club soccer championship has ended in violence, with three fans killed in a night of boisterous revelry.

Authorities say they registered more than 600 street fights after Medellin's Atletico Nacional defeated Ecuador's Independiente del Valle 1-0 in Wednesday night's Copa Libertadores final.

It was Nacional's second-ever title in the premier South American club tournament and the first by a Colombian team since 2004.

One of those killed was wearing the shirt of a rival Medellin club when he was slashed in the neck with a knife. There were also reports that mobs of Nacional fans attacked adversaries in Bogota.

Police say at least 23 people were injured.