I didnt see much of last nights game, but I turned it on after the game and the referees were sprinting into the tunnel to not get hit with things being thrown at them. I did see the first red card that was given to Chile and it was a complete joke. The Argentine player grabbed his face as if he had been kicked, but he wasnt. The ref believed he was kicked and showed the player red. Here is an account of the violence from someone who was there:
"That was the wildest sporting event I have ever been to, and I now I understand clearly how violence and riots happen around the world.
Crowd was 75-25 for Chile. Early goal for Argentina, and then the red card, which was on the opposite side of the field from me and looked like a legit call, until I saw the replay that the Argentina player grabbed at his face and drew it. Argentine fan right in front of me starts taunting the Chile fans in the rows in front, leading to a screaming match, which led to someone using the “n” word to someone else (which I have honestly never heard in Toronto), which of course led to a huge shoving match, pull-apart and security shutdown.
This is 15 minutes in.
Chile plays well with ten men, more fouls (53 in total for the game), more yellow (9 for the game). Lots and lots of Olympic-class diving. At the half the game is still in the balance. Go for a beer at half, security is trying to eject a Chilean fan, which leads 7 or 8 fellow fans to try to pull the 3 security guys off, which led to a big brawl right in front of 100 people at the concession stand. Huge chance for serious injuries. Cops come in and shut it down.
Second half, more fouls, more yellow. Second goal goes in and it looks just about over. Second yellow to a Chilean player that leads to the second Red. German ref surrounded by Chile players. Pitch invasion by an irate fan trying to get at the ref. Players escort him to the sidelines. Crowd is IRATE at this point. Final whistle blows. ENTIRE Chile bench tries to get at the ref, who is protected by police. Second pitch invasion by a fan wearing a Chicken head. Finally, players get off the field. Refs try for the tunnel but are pummeled by bottles thrown by about 1000 Chilean fans crowded around the tunnel. Refs refuse to run the gauntlet, which makes the crowd even angrier. Finally they make it through to a chorus of boos, screams and cups. Officials in the FIFA box to my left (old and very white) look very concerned.
Leaving the stadium, rival fans are singing and taunting each other and there is a real sense of trouble, which I fortunately leave. Find out this morning about the later brawl between the players and police, which actually makes perfect sense."