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Other major stadium disasters before the Guinea tragedy

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Fans invade the soccer field after a match between Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya at Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, Indonesia Oct 2, 2022 in this screen grab taken from a REUTERS video. REUTERS TV via REUTERS/File Photo

Here is a look at major disasters in soccer stadiums over recent decades after 56 people were killed during a stadium crush in Guinea sparked by an on-field controversy.

December 2024, Guinea

A disputed refereeing decision triggered violence and a crush at a soccer match in the southeastern city of Nzerekore, killing 56 people, authorities said.

October 2022, Indonesia

At least 125 people died and more than 320 were injured after a football match in East Java involving Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya. Arema FC supporters invaded the pitch at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang following a 3-2 defeat and police fired tear gas, triggering a crush and suffocation.

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January 2022, Cameroon

At least eight people died and 38 were injured in a crush at the Yaounde Olembe Stadium in Cameroon before the host country’s Africa Cup of Nations last-16 game against Comoros.

February 2012, Egypt

Fans rioted at the end of a match between rivals Al-Masry and Al-Ahly in the city of Port Said. At least 73 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured, and the Egyptian league was suspended for two years.

March 2009, Cote d’Ivoire

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At least 19 people were killed during chaos at Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium before a World Cup soccer qualifying match against Malawi.

May 2001, Ghana

Around 126 people were killed in a crush at Accra’s main soccer stadium when police fired tear gas at rioting fans in one of Africa’s worst soccer disasters.

April 2001, South Africa

At least 43 people were crushed to death when soccer fans tried to force their way into Johannesburg’s huge Ellis Park Stadium midway through a top South African league match.

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October 1996, Guatemala

Up to 82 people died and at least 147 were injured when an avalanche of fans tumbled down seats and a flight of stairs at a World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Costa Rica in Guatemala City.

May 1992, France

A stand at Bastia’s Furiani Stadium collapsed before a French Cup semi-final against Olympique de Marseille, killing 18 and injuring more than 2,300.

In 2021, the French parliament passed a law banning professional matches taking place in the country on May 5 in memory of the victims.

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January 1991, South Africa

Forty-two people died in a crush during a pre-season game at the Oppenheimer Stadium in the mining town of Orkney between the Kaizer Chiefs and the Orlando Pirates. A Pirates fan had attacked Chiefs supporters in the crowd with a knife.

April 1989, Britain

96 Liverpool supporters were crushed to death in an over-crowded and fenced-in enclosure at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield before an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

A 97th victim died in 2021 after suffering irreversible brain damage from the Hillsborough disaster.

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March 1988, Nepal

A rush towards locked exits in a hailstorm at Nepal’s national soccer stadium in Kathmandu killed more than 90 fans.

May 1985, Belgium

Thirty-nine fans died and more than 600 were injured in fan violence before the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.

May 1985, Britain

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At least 56 people were killed and more than 200 injured when fire broke out in the stands at the Valley Parade stadium in Bradford during a third division match against Lincoln City.

October 1982, Russia

Fans were crushed as they left a UEFA Cup tie between Spartak Moscow and Dutch side HFC Haarlem at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Officials from the former Soviet Union did not disclose the tragedy for years. When they did, they gave an official death toll of 66 although the number who died in a crush at one exit could have been as high as 340.

-Reuters

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Guinea stadium crush kills 56 people after disputed refereeing decision

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People scramble in Nzerekore, Guinea, where local officials said a deadly stampede ensued at a stadium following fan clashes during a soccer match, December 1, 2024, in this still image obtained from a social media video. Social media via REUTERS

A controversial refereeing decision sparked violence and a crush at a soccer match in southeast Guinea, killing 56 people, according to a provisional toll, the government said on Monday.

The fatalities occurred during the final of a tournament in honour of Guinea’s military leader Mamady Doumbouya at a stadium in Nzerekore, one of the nation’s largest cities.

Some fans threw stones, triggering panic and a crush, the government statement said, promising an investigation.

A video authenticated by Reuters showed dozens of people scrambling over high walls to escape.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from the city’s administration said many victims were minors caught in the turmoil after police started firing tear gas. The official described scenes of confusion and chaos with some parents retrieving bodies before they were officially counted.

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Videos and pictures shared online showed victims lined up on the ground. In one video, over a dozen inert bodies could be seen, several of them children.

Reuters was not immediately able to verify that footage.

Opposition group National Alliance for Change and Democracy said authorities bore responsibility for organising tournaments to bolster political support for Doumbouya in contravention of a transition charter prior to a promised presidential election.

There was no immediate response from the military junta to that accusation.

Reuters

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Bizarre as Argentine top-flight side fields influencer in match

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Argentine club Deportivo Riestra were branded “shameful” and a “disgrace” after putting an influencer into the starting line-up for Monday’s top-flight game against leaders Velez Sarsfield before substituting him inside the first minute.

Ivan Buhajeruk, who is better known as Spreen and has more than 7 million subscribers on YouTube, has no professional football experience but was named as a striker in the side by coach Cristian Fabbiani.

The 24-year-old was subbed off after only 50 seconds during a break in play for a foul.

The lowly Buenos Aires club, who are known for their unconventional marketing strategies, gave Buhajeruk a professional contract and registered him with the Argentine FA in February.

Match commentators on local broadcaster Tyc Sports were scathing of Buhajeruk’s performance in the short time he was on the pitch.

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“He doesn’t even know where to stand … it’s unbelievable,” one commentator said. “This is shameful, it’s a total disgrace.”

Fabbiani told a local radio station that he had spoken to Velez coach Gustavo Quinteros ahead of the match to tell him he did not want to disrespect anyone by naming Buhajeruk in the team.

“He laughed and told me to leave him for half an hour. It’s something contractual that was signed a long time ago and the club depends a lot on publicity … It was probably a one-time thing,” he added.

Former Argentina international Juan Sebastian Veron, now president of Argentine club Estudiantes de la Plata, was unimpressed by the publicity stunt.

“A total lack of respect for football and footballers,” he wrote on Instagram.

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Argentine newspaper La Nacion wrote on its website: “How to disrespect the history and future of Argentine football in one minute”.

Riestra have enjoyed an impressive maiden campaign in the Primera Division and in ninth place, level on points with giants Boca Juniors.

Monday’s match ended 1-1.

-Reuters

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Footballer dies after being struck by lightning during match

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A 39-year-old Peruvian footballer died after he was struck by lightning during a match on Nov 3, with four others left injured by the thunderbolt.

One of the goalkeepers who was injured in the incident is being treated for serious burns, while three other players aged 14, 16 and 24 are in stable condition at the hospital.

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A football player was killed after he was struck by lightning in Peru during a match on Nov 3, with four others left injured by the accident. PHOTOS: ONDA DEPORTIVA HUANCAVELIC

The player who died was identified as Hugo De La Cruz, a defender for Juventud Bellavista.

The local municipality, in a statement reported by CNN, said: “We join in solidarity and extend our sincere condolences to the family of young Hugo De La Cruz, who, after being struck by lightning, unfortunately lost his life while being taken to the hospital.

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“We also express our support and wishes for a speedy recovery to the other four players injured in this tragic accident.”

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A spot on the ground where the lightning appears to have made contact after striking a football player during a match on Nov 3. PHOTO: ONDA DEPORTIVA HUANCAVELIC

The game was being played at Coto Coto stadium in the town of Chilca, about 70km south-east of the Peruvian capital Lima, and had just been ordered to pause due to the storm, CNN reported.

In video footage of the incident broadcast by local TV station Onda Deportiva Huancavelic, football players can be seen walking on the pitch in the 22nd minute of a match between local teams Juventud Bellavista and Familia Chocca.

A bright flash and loud sound is heard and one of the players is engulfed in smoke in what appears to be a small explosion.

In that instant, seven other players are seen to fall over at the same time as the players further away run offscreen. Following this, some of the players can be seen struggling to get to their feet.

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The video then cuts to a spot on the ground where the lightning appears to have struck, with footage from earlier in the match where thunder can be heard rumbling.

How were the other players injured?

Lightning can produce what is known as a ground current when it strikes the ground or an object on the ground, said the United States National Weather Service website.

The discharge of electricity then occurs in and along the ground surface, creating the dangerous and potentially deadly ground current near where the lightning strikes.

This phenomenon is responsible for “many lightning deaths and injuries”, as well as the deaths of many farm animals.

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The local authorities believe Mr De La Cruz may have been struck by the bolt of lightning because of a metal bracelet he was wearing at the time, with an official saying it was “like a magnet”, reported British daily The Telegraph.

In February, an Indonesian footballer died after being struck by lightning during a match at the Siliwangi Stadium in the city of Bandung, about 150km south of Jakarta.

In a similar incident in Singapore more than two decades ago, Jiang Tao, an 18-year-old player with the now-defunct Chinese S-League club Sinchi FC, was killed in March 2004 after he was struck by lightning during training at the Jurong Stadium, which has since been demolished.

-Strait Times

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