Blackest day in history
“Barbaric” fan riots in Mexico
03/06/2022, 10:55 p.m
At least 26 people are injured in violent clashes in the stadium between rival fans during the Mexican first division soccer match between Queretaro and Atlas. Three of them are in “critical condition” in the hospital. FIFA is shocked by the brutality.
At least 26 people have been injured after a violent brawl at a soccer game in central Mexico. This was said by the governor of the state of Querétaro, Mauricio Kuri, in a press conference. Accordingly, three of them were in critical condition. The first division games scheduled for Sunday were canceled by the Mexican league out of solidarity with those affected.
The “fans” even attacked each other with barriers.
(Photo: AP)
World governing body FIFA called the incident “barbaric” in a statement. “The violence at Corregidora Stadium was unacceptable and intolerable,” said a statement in the evening. FIFA wanted to reiterate that “violence should have absolutely no place in football and we will continue to work with all groups to ban them from our game.”
In view of the violence and chaos, the newspaper “El Universal” wrote of the “blackest day in the history of Mexican football”. During the game between FC Querétaro and Atlas Guadalajara at the La Corregidora stadium in Querétaro, supporters of both teams initially attacked each other in the stands and then stormed onto the field, where they continued to attack each other, some with chairs and poles. The security personnel were massively overwhelmed, and the situation was extremely dangerous for everyone present.
Hooligans from both teams had stormed the field.
(Photo: AP)
Women and children sought shelter in the stadium tunnels. Players fled to the dressing rooms. Querétaro goalkeeper Washington Aguerre was one of those who stayed on the pitch and tried to influence people. In an interview with “TyC Sports” he said: “I still can’t believe it. It was very bad to see children running around. Yesterday there were animals in the stands and they had no respect for anyone.”
The game was interrupted in the 62nd minute when the score was 0:1 and then stopped. The civil defense of the state of Querétaro reported 22 injuries on Sunday night. Nine of them were taken to the hospital, three of them with serious injuries, it said in a tweet.
Deaths, which were mentioned in the first reports and which were feared in view of the violent images, were confirmed by Sunday noon (local time) neither by civil defense nor by the government of the state of Querétaro. The Mexican Football League condemned the events at La Corregidora stadium and announced that an investigation had been launched. “Those responsible for the lack of security in the stadium will be punished. The safety of our players and fans is our top priority,” said Mexican league president Mikel Arriola.
