Lee Kang-in's provocation in Bolivia eventually caused an accident, and 17 people were sent off due to a collective scuffle in their own league

Nov 29, 2025

A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Lee Kang-in is competing for the ball. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/

SNS

On the A-match day of November, a shocking incident occurred in Bolivia's soccer community against Hong Myung-bo.

On the 26th (Korea time), a total of 17 people from both teams left in the second leg of the 2025 Copa División propositional quarterfinals between Real Uro and Blooming FC at Estadio Jesus Vermudes in Oruro, Bolivia.

In the game that ended in a 2-2 draw, a fierce scuffle was held between the players and staff of both teams during overtime. The situation was cleared up only after the police rushed to fire tear gas.

A total of 17 players, including 11 players, received red cards for violent acts, such as punching each other. It is the worst violent incident in Bolivian football history.

According to Bolivian media 'El Fosoci', the conflict escalated when Sebastian Zebayos, a member of Oruro, was checked by a Blooming player. Bench clearing broke out when Jebayos teammate Julio Villa punched Blooming and Oruro head coach Marcelo Robledo fell in a collision with Blooming coach.

The home team Oruro held a press conference after the game and publicly criticized Blooming for causing the conflict by using discriminatory language.

About 20 policemen suppressed the violence on the ground, and the players of both teams then headed to the locker room. After the match, the referee pulled out seven and four red cards to Blooming and Oruro players, respectively.

Blooming, who won 2-1 in the first game, won the semifinal with a combined score of 4-3, but Gabriel Valverde, Richet Gomes, Roberto Melgar, Franco Pose, César Romero and Luis Suarez, who were sent off on the day, are not allowed to play in the next game.

Defender Richet Gomes, who left on the day, played as a substitute in the second half of the A-match friendly against Hong Myung-bo at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Blooming captain and main midfielder Moise Villarroel, who started against Korea, played full-time in the 90th minute.

Locally, a huge backlash is expected after the game. A Blooming official suffered a broken cheekbone after being assaulted.

The Sports Disciplinary Court will review whether to impose additional punishment based on the report of the judges.

Bolivian powerhouse Blooming was also sent off in October in a league match against Bolivar for a scuffle of five players from both teams. The Bolivian league, centered on the Blooming Club, is suffering from continued violence.

A match warm-up match between South Korea and Bolivia held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 14th. Lee Kang-in, who committed a foul, is being warned. Daejeon = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.11.14/

The Bolivian national soccer team also continued to play tough against Korea. Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in appeared excited by the opponent's continued provocations. South Korea won 2-0 with Son Heung-min's first free-kick and Cho Kyu-sung's additional goal, making it `true education.'

Bolivia qualified for the intercontinental playoff by ranking seventh in the South American qualifying round for the 2026 North American World Cup. It is scheduled to play Suriname in the intercontinental playoff semifinals on March 27 next year. If they beat Suriname, they will play the final against Iraq on April 1 for one berth in the finals.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.