The Colombian city of Cali celebrated the annual bullfighting festival on Thursday.

The traditional event, which has sparked a lot of controversy over the years, is held towards the end of the year in the city and coincides with the local festival "Feria de Cali".

Despite all the criticism, the bloody sport is still being performed in several parts of the world. Incidents of matadors being brutally gored to death or crippled for life and violent bulls charging into crowds injuring onlookers are regular affairs from the bullring.

Here are some shocking images of the annual event:

Cali bullfight
Colombian bullfighter Pepe Manrique is tackled by a bull during a bullfighting festival at Canaveralejo bullring in Cali. Reuters
Cali bullfight
Colombian bullfighter Ramses Ruiz performs a pass to a bull during a bullfighting festival at Canaveralejo bullring in Cali. Reuters
Cali bullfight
Spanish bullfighter Ivan Fandino performs with a bull during a bullfighting festival at Canaveralejo bullring in Cali. Reuters
Cali bullfight
Colombian bullfighter Pepe Manrique is tackled by a bull during a bullfighting festival at Canaveralejo bullring in Cali. Reuters
Cali bullfight
Spanish bullfighter Ivan Fandino performs with a bull during a bullfighting festival at Canaveralejo bullring in Cali. Reuters