NEW DELHI: A tragic stampede at a football stadium in southern Guinea resulted in the death of 56 people and many others injured following clashes between supporters, the Guinean government said on Monday.
The latter launched an investigation to identify those responsible for the incident which occurred on Sunday, according to comments made by the Minister of Communication, Fana Soumah, during a televised statement.
Local media and political groups reported that children were among the victims, according to the AP news agency.
The incident took place Sunday afternoon at the Nzérékoré stadium during the final of a local tournament between the Labe and Nzérékoré teams, organized in tribute to military leader Mamadi Doumbouya, as indicated by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah on the social network
Bah confirmed the number of casualties without providing further details, saying regional authorities were working to stabilize the situation.
According to local reports, security forces used tear gas to control the chaos that erupted following a disputed penalty decision.
Media Guinea reported that the controversial penalty sparked anger from supporters, leading to stone throwing and subsequent interventions by security forces. This media also noted that children were among the victims, and that several seriously injured were receiving treatment in a regional hospital.
Videos taken at the scene showed supporters protesting against the referee's decisions before the conflict broke out, with spectators invading the pitch. The recordings captured people fleeing the stadium, while many scaled the high perimeter fence.
Other videos show numerous victims lying on the floor of a hospital, surrounded by people providing assistance to the injured.
The opposition group, the National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy, called for an investigation, criticizing the tournament as a means of promoting the military leader's “illegal and inappropriate” political aspirations.
Guinea has been under military rule since the 2021 coup that ousted President Alpha Condé. It joins other West African countries, such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where military takeovers have delayed the restoration of civilian power.
Doumbouya, who led the coup three years ago, said he wanted to prevent national chaos and criticized the previous administration's broken promises, even as he faces criticism for failing to meet government expectations. audience.
It is regrettable that sporting events, which should bring together and celebrate the passion for football, are tarnished by such tragedies. Responsibility lies not only with the organizers, but also with the sport regulators who must ensure the safety of spectators. As a society, there is a need to re-examine our governance structures and assess how we can prevent situations like this from happening again. This calls to mind the essential role that sport plays in our communities, and the need for reforms to protect this precious sporting culture.
