SANTIAGO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The new president of the Chilean soccer federation promised on Monday to clamp down on hooligans.

Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who was elected last week as the replacement for Reinaldo Sanchez, said he wanted to appoint a full-time official to deal with the problem.

'Basically, it involves an official working full-time in the Chilean league and dedicating himself exclusively to pursuing those who cause trouble in the stadiums,' Mayne-Nicholls told reporters.

'He will be a lawyer who has to capability to investigate and fight against these people.'

Chile, like other South American countries, has been plagued by soccer violence recently.

In October, a Copa Sudamericana match between Colo Colo and Argentina's Gimnasia-La Plata was abandoned in the 86th minute when a visiting player was hit by a lump of concrete thrown from the crowd.

Last week, one supporter was seriously injured during a confrontation between fans of Colo Colo and Universidad de Chile at the Monumental stadium.

Mayne-Nicholls also promised to help the police and local authorities by avoiding last-minute alterations to the fixture list.