Football Riot in El Salvador, 9 People Died

– The tragedy of rioting in football is back. This time, at least nine people died in a commotion that broke out at the Cuscatlan Stadium, El Salvador, Saturday (18/2/2023).

Tragedy struck when the second leg of the quarter-finals was held play-offs The Primera Division between Alianza and FAS at the Cuscatlan Stadium in the nation’s capital.

The match was suspended and the National Civil Police confirmed in an initial report that nine people (seven men and two women) had died. Dozens of other fans were injured in the incident.

The Commissioner General of the National Civilian Police, Mauricio Arriaza Chicas said that the police would cooperate with the attorney general to hold those responsible for the tragedy accountable.

“We regret that this incident led to death. As an institutional police force we announce that together with @FGR_SV we will be conducting a criminal investigation into tonight’s incident,” Arriaza Chicas said on her Twitter account.

Un promedio de 90 pacientes son atendidos por el Sistema Integrado de @SaludSVtras la estampida de aficionados en el Estadio Cuscatlán.

La respuesta opportuna del Gobierno ha permitido salvar vidas. pic.twitter.com/Xc5KUWhLVg

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— Noticiero El Salvador 🇸🇻 (@NoticieroSLV) May 21, 2023

Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado added: “What happened today at the Cuscatlan Stadium is a tragedy for everyone. My condolences to the Salvadoran fans. @FGR_SV and @PNCSV they are carrying out the necessary procedures to conclude responsibility.”

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, promised to carry out an in-depth investigation into this tragedy. “Everyone will be investigated: teams, directors, stadiums, ticket offices, leagues, federations, etc. Whoever did it, they will not go unpunished,” Bukele said.

Video footage of the match on YouTube shows the game being suspended after panic broke out in one of the stands. The injured were later seen being carried away by emergency services on stretchers.

The El Salvador Football Federation said that all national level football matches on Sunday would be suspended.

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