A football match turns tragic
A real tragedy
Around 56 people died on Sunday 01 December following a stampede at the Nzérékoré stadium in the south-east of the Republic of Guinea. The death toll is still provisional and could rise.
The incident
During a football match between two national teams, angry supporters challenged refereeing decisions. In protest, they invaded the field of play, throwing stones. The police fired tear gas in an attempt to contain the crowd. This provoked a crowd movement. Panicked spectators jostled each other trying to escape, and several people were fatally trampled.
Government reaction
The authorities have announced three days of national mourning, and Guinean Prime Minister Bah Oury said on X that ‘the government will issue a statement once it has gathered all the relevant information on these unfortunate incidents’.
The match was the final of the tournament dedicated to the country’s President, General Mamadi Doumbouya.
Safety in question
This tragedy raises the issue of stadium safety on the continent. These infrastructures are generally not up to international safety standards. They are often poorly maintained and many are ageing. Stadiums are often filled beyond their capacity and in many cases have only one entrance and one exit gate making evacuation difficult. Access controls are sometimes inadequate, allowing dangerous objects to be brought in. It should also be noted that sporting events are sometimes disrupted by political and social instability, which exacerbates the risk of turbulence and violence.
Let us pray for the victims of this tragedy and for all their families.
Source
- spazio+spadoni
- Guinea football crush kills dozens in Nzérékoré
- AFRICA/GUINEA – Dozens of people killed after a stampede at a football stadium – Agenzia Fides
Image
- Image digitally created by spazio+spadoni