12 dead after match crush in stadium

Astampede by fans at a football match in the Salvadoran league has left 12 people dead and injured dozens more, officials said.

The crush happened when fans apparently pushed through a gate during Saturday’s quarterfinal between Alianza and FAS at Monumental stadium in Cuscatlan, about 25 miles north-east of the capital San Salvador, football officials said.

“El Salvador is in mourning,” said a statement from the press office of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, which confirmed that at least 12 people had died.

Civil Protection director Luis Amaya said about 500 people had been assisted and about 100 were taken to hospital. At least two of the injured in hospital were in a critical condition.

“Twelve persons lost their lives and I would like to express my condolences to all the people of El Salvador,” said Fifa president Gianni Infantino yesterday at a World Health Organisation meeting in Geneva.

Play was suspended about 16 minutes into the match, when fans in the stands waving frantically got the attention of those on the field and carried the injured on to the pitch.

Local television transmitted live images of the aftermath as dozens made it on to the field to receive medical treatment.

Pedro Hernandez, president of El Salvador football’s first division, said preliminary information he had was that the stampede occurred because fans managed to push through a gate into the stadium.

“It was an avalanche of fans who overran the gate. Some were still under the metal in the tunnel. Others managed to make it to the stands and then to the field and were smothered,” first aid group volunteer.

National Civil Police Commissioner Mauricio Arriza Chicas said there would be a criminal investigation.

FOOTBALL TRAGEDY: Top, fans and a player carry one of the injured on to the field of Cuscatlan stadium near San Salvador. Above, bodies lie covered at the stadium.