Football rally in Peru leaves one dead and dozens injured
Football rally in Peru leaves one dead and dozens injured
A fan lost their life and multiple others were injured during a pre-match gathering at a football derby in Lima, Peru. The Peruvian Health Minister, Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero, confirmed the death while stating that 47 individuals were affected, with three in critical condition. The event took place at Alejandro Villanueva Stadium, where supporters of Alianza Lima, the home team, gathered wearing team kits and displaying flags before facing rivals Universitario de Deportes.
“There are no collapsed walls or sections fallen into the pit,” said Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo, addressing concerns about the stadium’s structural integrity. He emphasized that the southern stands remained stable, contradicting early reports of partial collapse.
Despite the chaos, the football league confirmed the match would proceed as scheduled. The interior ministry initially reported that 40 firefighters attended an emergency involving people trapped in a structure, but Alianza Lima later clarified the incident was unrelated to stadium collapse. The club’s statement on X stated, “According to preliminary information, the event is not connected to structural failures of the sports complex.”
Authorities are now probing the circumstances of the rally, with the Peruvian Professional Football League reiterating its dedication to ensuring the safety of spectators. The incident has sparked discussions about crowd management and infrastructure safety ahead of high-stakes matches.
