Stampede at El Salvador stadium, at least 12 people died

The second leg of the play-off quarter-final between Alianza FC and Club Deportivo FAS at the Cuscatlan Stadium in San Salvador was suspended after a stampede.

A medical team provides relief after a stampede before the soccer match between CD FAS vs. Alianza FC at the Cuzcatlan stadium, in San Salvador, El Salvador May 20, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/ Jose Cabezas

It is one of the largest stadiums in Central America and has an official capacity of over 44,000 fans.

“The Salvadoran Football Federation deeply regrets the events that occurred at the Cuscatlan stadium,” the organization wrote on Twitter. “We express our solidarity with the relatives of those affected and those who died in this incident.”

The league added that it would immediately request a report into the incident and suspend the tournament following Saturday's events, calling for a meeting with the Sports Venue Security Committee on Sunday.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said the National Civil Police and the Attorney General's Office would conduct a "thorough investigation" into the events at the stadium.

The incident was reminiscent of a horrific stampede last year that killed 135 fans at a stadium in Indonesia’s East Java in October. Many were crushed as they fled after police fired tear gas into the crowd.

Mai Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/giam-dap-tai-svd-el-salvador-it-nhat-12-nguoi-thiet-mang-post248590.html