Chile soccer players clash with Toronto police

TORONTO, July 20 (Reuters) World soccer body FIFA is investigating a clash between Chile's Under-20 soccer team and Toronto police late yesterday, with Chileans accusing police of using pepper spray and electric-shock guns against their players.

The brawl took place shortly after Chile suffered a bitter 3-0 defeat to Argentina in a semi-final game at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Toronto.

Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley was quoted in Santiago media early today as saying his government would file a formal complaint in Canada over the police conduct and request an explanation.

''The entire situation is under investigation,'' said John Schumacher, spokesman for FIFA, early today morning. ''The players have been released from custody of the police to the care of the Chilean delegation.'' Furious with the referee's calls during the match, which left them with nine players against Argentina's 11, several Chilean players angrily confronted the referee on the field afterward.

Later, outside the stadium, there was an altercation between police and the athletes as they headed toward their bus amid a throng of fans.

Chilean television showed some players handcuffed. All 21 Chilean players were detained briefly by police.

The Chilean consul in Toronto, Ricardo Plaza, told local radio: ''What is clear is that police repressed the Chilean players with quite forcefully for reasons that we are investigating.'' ''The players are individuals who are absolutely helpless and they were in a very bad state, very upset ... but that doesn't make them delinquents,'' he said.

Plaza was not immediately available to confirm that Chile would lodge a formal complaint.

Team member Isaias Peralta told a Chilean newspaper he received two electric shocks to his ribs during the tussle. ''We were treated like animals,'' he said.

FIFA will hold a news conference in Toronto at 4:30 p.m. (2030 GMT).

REUTERS BJR RN2057