What should have been a joyous Saturday night for Cruz Azul fans after a home victory against Monterrey ended in tragedy. Rodrigo Mondragón, 34, reportedly died after being detained by campus security. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, with conflicting accounts emerging.
Local media reports that after the final whistle, Rodrigo was in the parking lot of the Olympic University Stadium, located inside the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) campus, when an altercation with security personnel took place.
He was then taken into custody to be handed over to the police. However, the Cruz Azul supporter never made it that far.
Friends and relatives told several news outlets that campus security used excessive force, alleging that Rodrigo was beaten and loaded into an official vehicle while still alive. Campus security maintains that the fan was intoxicated and had physically and verbally assaulted their staff.
In a statement released by UNAM’s Civil Protection agency on Sunday, officials said that Rodrigo resisted efforts to clear the parking area and was subsequently detained. The statement adds that while in custody, he fainted, prompting an immediate call for paramedics, who were unable to revive him.
Rodrigo’s family and friends say they spent hours searching for him, calling hospitals and precincts, and received no information until early Sunday morning.
The Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office has since detained four members of UNAM’s security force for further investigation. Several Cruz Azul fans gathered outside the Prosecutor’s Office building to demand justice while holding banners that read “UNAM Kills”.
League officials also released a statement expressing condolences for Rodrigo’s death while clarifying that Liga MX representatives at the stadium were not informed of the incident. Cruz Azul issued a message offering its sympathies to Rodrigo’s family and friends and noted that the security operations in question are not under its jurisdiction.
Cruz Azul has been playing its home matches at UNAM’s Olympic Stadium since early 2025 while renovations continue at Estadio Azteca ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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