‘The Classic’ turns violent: A horse-punching teenager and 69 others arrested at Sunday match between rivals La Liga and Saprissa

Police detained 70 rowdy fans Sunday near the National Stadium before the Costa Rican Classic, a rivalry match between San José’s Saprissa football squad and Alajuela’s La Liga.

Among those arrested was a 14-year-old boy who punched a police horse in the face. The blow frightened the horse causing it to buck its mounted police officer and trample him. The policeman was treated by the Red Cross for minor injuries.

Twenty-eight other people were detained for drinking and consuming drugs in La Sabana Park near the stadium, and the remaining 42 people were detained in a fight that broke out outside the stadium gates.