 "More than 100 people are reported to have been killed during a stampede that took place at a football match in Guinea. Reuters image")
At least around 100 people were killed in a stampede during a clash between fans at a football match in Guinea’s N’Zerekore on Sunday. One of the doctors said that the local hospital in N’Zerekore, the second largest city in Guinea, had already been filled with people. The morgue is also full, the doctor added.
“There are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the hallways. The morgue is full,” the doctor told news agency AFP on conditions of anonymity.
A witness told the news agency that the violence between fans began when some fans were not pleased with one of the decisions taken by the referee.“It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” the unidentified witness said.
This is not the first time such an incident has happened during a football match. Having said that, the sport has a history of violence when it comes to clashes between fans. We take a look at some incidents:
Hillsborough disaster, 1989
The Hillsborough disaster is one of the most talked-about incidents in football even today. The incident took place during an FA Cup semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield on 15 April, 1989.
With kick-off nearing, people gathered in huge numbers outside turnstiles in Leppings Lane, Sheffield. The match commander David Duckenfield then gave the order to open an exit gate, following which 2000 people made their way into a standing-room section, when the capacity of the area was just 1600. A total of 97 people were killed and more than 760 people were injured.
Indonesia stadium disaster, 2022
On 1 October, 2022 , during a club football match between Arema and Persabaya Surabaya at the Kanjuruhan Stadium in East Java, Indonesia, a violence among the crowd broke out. More than 3000 Arema fans invaded the pitch during the match, with local police claiming that the fans attacked players and team officials.
The police tried to stop the riot among fans and protect players, but the crowds then got involved in clashes with security forces. This prompted riot police units to deploy tear gas, that eventually caused a stampede.
Peru vs Austria in 1936 Berlin Olympics
A football match between Peru and Austria at the 1936 Berlin Olympics caused controversy. The match took place at Stadion am Gesundbrunnen in Berlin on 8 August, 1936. Peru had three goals being disallowed during the first-half of extra time. Peru did score two more goals in the second half of extra time and take a 4-2 lead, but Peruvian fans invaded the pitch in the 119th minute and assaulted Austrian players. An Austrian player got injured, and after that match was abandoned, FIFA then ordered the match to be played again. However, the Peruvian government refused this and took back their entire Olympic contingent home.
Estadio Nacional Stadium disaster, 1964
The Estadio Nacional Stadium disaster took place during a football match between hosts Peru and Argentina. Peruvian fans were angry with a decision made by the referee, and as a result, they invaded the pitch. Police used teargas to control the situation. As many as 350 people were reported to have died during the incident.