Sporting Crystal defeated The Strongest 1-0 for the 2023 Copa Libertadores, earning his first points in the group stage of the tournament. The win was not only a great joy for the Sky Blue fans and the team, but is also very important for the club’s cup ambitions given Fluminense’s loss to River Plate and the difficult situation Florida has been going through in recent weeks. Alongside the victory, there was one event that stuck like a postcard of the night at the Nacional: a fan invaded the field in a very conspicuous manner.
While not uncommon in world football, the issue that caused Cristal vs. The Strongest to elicit public laughter as the police and security guards failed to stop it. This resulted in a several-minute delay before play could resume.
Although some people may have enjoyed this episode, the harsh reality is that what happened is no hoax for Sporting Cristal as the club are expecting a tough fine.
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What does the Conmebol Regulation say about Sporting Cristal’s responsibility?
According to Article 8 (Objective Responsibility) of the Conmebol 2023 Disciplinary Code, Sporting Cristal must take responsibility for the infraction of the fan who entered the pitch of the National Stadium. Point 1 states: “Except as otherwise provided in this code, member associations and clubs are responsible for the behavior of their players, officials, members, the public, supporters…”.
Point 2, in turn, states that “the member associations and clubs are responsible for security and order within and in the immediate vicinity of the stadium before, during and after the match which they host or organize”. Aside from Article 3 (Subjective Scope) not including the attending public under the Code’s provisions, Cristal as a local team has to pay a fine.
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What is the fine for entering a game?
Entering or attempting to enter the field of play is considered in Article 12 (Order and Security at Matches) as inappropriate behavior by local team supporters. According to the table of offenses, if this is the first offense and it occurs during the first stages of the Copa Libertadores or in the group stage, this offense carries a fine of US$15,000.
It’s important to remember, however, that a Cristal fan stormed onto the field the day the Celestes beat Huracán 1-0. Therefore, the fine on this occasion for violating Article 12 would be $20,000. There were also other disciplinary sanctions and minor fines, such as when he had to pay an extra fee for lighting pyrotechnics and replacing damaged billboards.
The table of violations and their respective fines in the Disciplinary Code 2023 of Conmebol. Photo: Conquest of Conmebol