A football match turned into tragedy yesterday in the country's second largest city Guinea, when a stampede caused by protests in the stands caused the death of at least 56 GuestsThe Guinean government confirmed the still provisional toll in a statement broadcast today on national television.
According to initial reconstructions, the accident occurred during the match between the teams of labe e N'Zerekore. Tensions erupted when some referee decisions sparked anger among fans, resulting in stone-throwing and violent disturbances in the stands. The situation quickly degenerated into a deadly stampede.
In the official statement, the government expressed deep concern about the incident: “Demonstrations over refereeing decisions led to stone-throwing by fans, resulting in a deadly stampede”Hospital services reported a balance of 56 victims, but the number could increase.
Il Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah strongly condemned the incidents in a post on Facebook, defining the events “a tragedy that ruined a day of sport”. Bah also urged the population to remain calm to allow rescuers to assist the injured and manage the emergency.
The government has assured that investigations will follow to clarify responsibilities and adopt measures to prevent further episodes of violence during sports events. In the meantime, calls for calm are multiplying in a country already marked by social and political tensions.
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This tragic event shows how passion for football can lead to violence. We hope that the government will take serious measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again, because safety must be a priority.