SANTA FE, Argentina, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A Copa Argentina match between Newell's Old Boys and Villa Mitre was called off minutes from the end on Sunday because of fan violence.

At least three police officers were injured by projectiles thrown by Newell's fans onto the Estadio 15 de Abril pitch in the northern city of Santa Fe.

The game was halted in the 91st minute with Villa Mitre, who play in Argentina's third-tier, leading first division side Newell's 2-1.

Play was suspended for more than five minutes before referee Lucas Novelli declared Villa Mitre the winners as fans continued to hurl objects - including two toilet cisterns - at police officers guarding the pitch.

The result means Villa Mitre advance to the last 16 of the competition while Newell's are eliminated.

The Barras Bravas - Argentina's equivalent of European ultras - have been a blight on the country's top football competitions for decades. In 2013, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) prohibited away supporters from attending matches after a spate of deaths related to fan violence. The ban was partially lifted last year.

In November, Argentina's President Mauricio Macri announced plans to implement harsher penalties for hooligans, just days after the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between Boca Juniors and River Plate was suspended because of an attack on Boca's team bus.