LAS VEGAS — Witnesses Thursday described a chaotic scene when brawls broke out among rival soccer fans at a Las Vegas match.
Violence began in the parking lot Wednesday night when fans from two rival Mexican soccer teams — Chivas and Club America — arrived at Sam Boyd Stadium.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports fans threw rocks and bottles at each other before dozens of police officers moved in to quell the violence.
But the incident set the tone for the rest of the night, as unruly fans threw punches, tossed bottles and set off fireworks and flares during and after the match.
"It was probably the most surreal sporting event I have ever been to," said Adam Berchin, a freelance writer who covered the game for The Associated Press.
Berchin said a scuffle broke out between the two teams halfway into the game, after two players got into a shoving match on the field.
"In no time both sides were all in one massive scrum," Berchin said.
He and AP freelance photographer David Becker said during the match flares were thrown onto the field and fireworks were being set off in the stands.
