A celebration turned tragic on Saturday, June 22, 2025, when three spectators lost their lives and more than 70 others sustained injuries following a fence collapse at the July 5 Stadium in Algiers. The incident occurred after MC Alger clinched the Algerian top-flight football title for the second consecutive season.

According to a statement released on Facebook by the Algerian Ministry of Health, the collapse took place in the stadium’s south bend upper stand. Emergency services responded swiftly, with 38 injured fans taken to Beni Messous University Hospital, 27 to Ben Aknoun Hospital, and 16 to Bab El Oued Hospital.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed condolences to the victims’ families and extended wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.

MC Alger also mourned the loss of one of their fans. “It is with great sadness and sorrow that we received the news of our supporter Younes Amguzzi, who passed away after falling from the upper stands,” the club said in a statement posted on Instagram.

The club has not yet issued a formal comment on the additional reported fatalities.

Local media attributed the tragedy to a structural failure, reporting that part of the upper-tier fencing gave way, causing fans to fall into the lower stands. A video posted by El Heddaf TV showed the damaged railing and the chaotic aftermath.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, while MC Alger players, staff, and club officials visited to donate blood in support of the victims. The trophy presentation ceremony was postponed out of respect for the incident.

Authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the cause of the collapse and the safety standards at the stadium.

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Libyan football is once again under fire after a highly anticipated derby match between Al-Ahli Tripoli and Al-Ittihad spiralled into chaos on Wednesday evening, forcing an early end to the game and leaving a trail of violence and destruction in its wake.

What was meant to be a showcase of local rivalry quickly turned into a disaster.

The match, part of Libya’s national championship, took a dark turn in the 38th minute when Moroccan midfielder Nawfel Zerhouni curled in a beautiful free-kick to give Al-Ittihad the lead. But the celebrations were short-lived. Tensions flared, players clashed, and a full-blown melee broke out on the pitch.

Things only got worse from there.

Despite being officially designated a behind-closed-doors fixture, fans from both clubs found their way into the stadium and took over the stands. Fights erupted, and the terraces turned into battlegrounds. The referee had no choice but to abandon the match.

The violence didn’t stop at the stadium gates.

Reports suggest that live ammunition was fired at Al-Ahli supporters, and the Al-Ittihad team bus was set ablaze in the aftermath. Shocking scenes like these are a grim reminder of how unchecked football passion can spiral into outright mayhem.

Both clubs reacted swiftly with official statements condemning the violence. Al-Ahli Tripoli and Al-Ittihad called for calm and restraint, stressing the importance of upholding the values of sport. They also urged authorities to launch a full investigation to uncover those behind the violence and ensure accountability.

This disturbing episode comes on the heels of previous controversies involving Libya’s football scene, including the troubled AFCON qualifier against Nigeria and riots during the Libya–Benin Republic match. It raises fresh concerns over the safety and stability of football in the country.

Libyan football is at a crossroads. Whether this serves as a wake-up call or just another chapter in a worrying trend remains to be seen.

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A simple photo between kids and a professional footballer has spiralled into controversy in Argentina, after Newell’s Old Boys sanctioned youth players for posing with Rosario Central’s Ignacio Malcorra, a move seen as a shocking escalation of the city’s fierce football rivalry.

Newell’s, the Rosario club that once nurtured a young Lionel Messi, suspended the academy players from training and revoked their scholarships for three months after discovering their photo with Malcorra, who has played for bitter rivals Rosario Central during five seasons.

The decision, which club officials framed as a protective measure following reported fan threats, has drawn strong criticism from both the public and prominent figures, while Malcorra himself expressed his dismay at the row.

“I feel sad for them. Children are innocent and don’t know much about what they’re doing,” Malcorra told reporters on Friday, recounting the chance encounter at a youth tournament three months ago.

“They just wanted to take a photo with a top flight player, like any child would.”

As the photo went viral on social media only recently, club officials said earlier this week the matter had been dealt with internally, while some ultra-supporters had reportedly demanded the children to be expelled.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni also condemned the sanctions.

“If you dream of playing in the First Division one day, it doesn’t matter who you play with,” he told reporters before Thursday’s match against Chile.

National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich on Friday called the sanctions “disgraceful” on social media, suggesting the club had bowed to pressure from hardline supporters.

The football rivalry, also known as the Rosario derby, reflects the deep footballing identity of the industrial port of Rosario – a city that produced eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi through Newell’s and recently welcomed Argentina talisman Angel Di Maria back to Central.

Newell’s said the affected children “continue to be members of the club” and that directors would meet with parents next week “to continue listening to them, supporting them, and taking appropriate action.”

-Reuters

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