Argentinian friendly turns into mass brawl as clash between rivals Estudiantes and Gimnasia descends into chaos

Estudiantes faced bitter rivals Gimnasia in a friendly on Sunday 
A mass brawl broke out in the second half involving both sets of players

Tempers flared after a horror tackle by Estudiantes' Santiago Escacibar

Argentina's Clausura commences this weekend after the Christmas break

It was a friendly in name but not in nature as Argentina rivals Estudiantes and Gimnasia literally clashed on Sunday.

Players from both teams traded kicks and punches with each other during a mass brawl in the second half.

The incident occurred after emotions had boiled over in the Platense derby following a shocking challenge from behind by Estudiantes youngster Santiago Escacibar that led to his dismissal.

Argentina rivals Estudiantes (red and white stripes) and Gimnasia were involved in a mass brawl on Sunday

The unsavoury scenes saw both benches from each team also involved as they traded punches and kicks

The violence took the place in the second half of their friendly ahead of the Clausura campaign

Leading 1-0, it was the hosts' second red card of the match against their bitter rivals who were down to 10 men themselves at that stage.

Escacibar's tackle incensed their La Plata rivals so much that even their bench ran onto the pitch to let their feelings be known.

Police were eventually called to restore order after the referee was forced to halt the match due to the unsavoury scenes.

Several players are expected to be hit with lengthy bans following the orgy of violence in front of 25,000 fans.

One player who is set to be suspended is Estudiantes goalkeeper Mariano Andujar who threw several punches at Gimnasia players.

However, the 32-year-old was then felled with a by a side-on right hook and kicked around the head and body as he lay on the ground by a succession of the Gimnasia squad.

He admitted after a cool-down in the dressing room: 'It's shameful for us, for the people who came to the stadium and for those watching on the TV.

'We can't finish like this. I don't know what happened but this doesn't do anyone any good.'

His manager, Nelson Vivas also condemned the violent scenes. Describing the incident as 'woeful', he blasted: 'The referee may have made some mistakes but the ones who gaffed were the two teams.'

The 32-year-old (centre) threw several punches and kicks before he was felled by a side-on right hook

Sunday's encounter took place just a week before the start of Argentina's Clausura, the second of the country's two single-round tournaments which begins after the Christmas break. 

Earlier in the match, an ambulance had already been driven onto the pitch to attend to a groggy Gimnasia player booted in the face by an Estudiantes defender who resorted to a karate kick to try to clear the ball.

It is the second time in the space of a week that a fight has broken out in Argentinian football.

Carlos Tevez was viciously headbutted before a huge 40-man melee broke out during Boca Juniors' defeat by arch-rivals River Plate.

The former West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City star was caught up in wild scenes late on during the 'friendly' when he was attacked by Jonathan Maidana.

The River defender was one of five players sent off, with team-mate Leonardo Pisculichi also seeing red for his part in the fracas. 

Carlos Tevez was caught up in wild scenes late on during a 'friendly' between River Plate and Boca Juniors

Estudiantes forward Carlos Auzqui (right) in action against Newell's Old Boys in September last year