Brutal fights between fans see stadium matches cancelled

Mexico’s football league will suspend upcoming matches at a stadium in the central city of Queretaro where violent clashes left two dozen people injured, and will restrict visiting fans from attending away games.

The brutal fighting among spectators during the QueretaroAtlas match on Saturday sent 26 people to hospital, with three in critical condition.

Mexico’s football league also said it would pursue sanctions, without detailing who might be held responsible or what the sanctions might include.

“We have an immediate challenge to generate a clear and understandable response and effective punishment,” said Mikel Arriola, president of the country’s top-flight professional Liga MX league, at a news conference.

“We are not going to have any soccer activity here until the case is resolved,” he added, referring to Queretaro’s Corregidora stadium.

Arriola said owners in the league would meet to discuss further disciplinary measures, including for rowdy fan groups known locally as barras, while government officials pursue investigations.

Liga MX suspended the match after 62 minutes with visitors Atlas leading 1-0, as spectators stormed the pitch.

Social media images showed people being brutally beaten, kicked and dragged through seating areas and hallways of the stadium.

The governor of Queretaro state, Mauricio Kuri, said some investigations had been opened for attempted murder.

“Even though there are no deaths, we can’t say this isn’t a tragedy,” Kuri said.

Neither government nor league officials addressed what might have triggered the clashes, which were condemned by both the Queretaro and Atlas teams.

“The violence at the La Corregidora stadium was unacceptable and intolerable,” Fifa said in a statement.