Football game turned bloody when 22 people were brutally injured – two of them seriously – after a football match descended into carnage in central Mexico on Saturday, www.totorinews.com reports.
Unconfirmed reports are circulating that up to 17 people could have died attending the game between the host Queretaro and Atlas from Guadalajara – the reigning league champion.
The match was suspended in the 62nd minute when multiple fights suddenly broke out in the stands – with men seen tearing off the jerseys of their rivals.
Security personnel opened the front gates to the field so that fans, including women and children, could escape the stands.
Players from visiting Atlas quickly fled to the locker rooms as did some from the Queretaro side. Other Queretaro players, including Uruguayan goalie Washington Aguerre, stayed near the bench trying to calm the fans.
Shocking footage shared online shows bloodied fans – some of them stripped naked – lying unresponsive outside the ground as others continue to kick and punch at them.
After several minutes fighting in the stands, some of the fights moved on to the field where they continued punching and kicking. Some revellers were armed with chairs and metal bars.
One fan could be seen pulling a knife to cut the nets of one goal. Others destroyed one side’s bench and some fought in the tunnel to the field.
‘So far there is no report of deaths; 22 people injured, nine of them taken to the General Hospital and of these, two are critical,’ said the Queretaro state civil protection agency.
The rest are stable. It should be mentioned that all of those injured are male and at this moment it’s been confirmed that four were from the state of Jalisco.’
Guadalajara is the capital of Jalisco.
The league condemned the violence in a message on its official Twitter account. League President Mikel Arriola said the game would not be resumed Saturday. He said those responsible for the lack of security in the stadium would be punished.
Football fans responded with widespread disgust when pictures and videos of the affray were shared on social media.
“Chris CC Lopez added: ‘I’m Mexican and I think Mexico should be disqualified from the Qatar World Cup 2022, and removed from hosting duties in 2026.’
Female player Miah Alexia Zuazua tweeted: ‘I am disgusted by what happened today at the Querétaro vs Atlas game. This sport is supposed to bring families and other people together to enjoy the beautiful game.’Atlas has also had issues recently with violence among its fans. Last year, the ‘classic’ with crosstown rival Chivas saw a brawl in the stands.
“Unfortunately, what is happening in Queretaro …is happening in my country,’ said Rafael Marquez,a former captain of the Mexican national team who started his career with Atlas and later became its coach.
Graphic videos and photos circulated on social networks showing apparent fans motionless on the ground, in some cases stripped naked and covered with blood.
Queretaro Gov. Mauricio Kuri condemned the violence and said the owners of the Queretaro club would have to answer for what happened.
” have given instructions that the law be applied with all of its consequences,’ he said.
Source : Daily Mail, UK
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