BOGOTA – A police officer was injured and six people were arrested in the violence following a first division soccer match in the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena, authorities said.

The brawl broke out after Sunday’s contest in which Real Cartagena lost 3-1 at home to Independiente Medellin.

A number of fans wielding stones and clubs clashed with a police squad deployed to maintain public order outside Jaime Moron Stadium, saying they were protesting the alleged bad refereeing of Sunday’s match.

Real Cartagena supporters slammed referee Oscar Reyes for annulling two goals by the local team and for throwing two of its players out of the game.

Stones thrown in the clash injured an auxiliary policeman who suffered a jaw trauma, according to the Red Cross in Cartagena.

“What occurred today was premeditated. They cornered us and sparked a problem of public order, because really what happened today was a disgrace – Independiente Medellin was playing with 14,” the president of Real Cartagena, Rodrigo Rendon, said.

He said that Reyes’ performance will be denounced before the National Refereeing Commission of Colombia’s Professional League.

Referee Reyes and his assistants left the stadium under police protection. EFE