El Salvador suffered its greatest sports tragedy on Saturday night with the death of 12 people as a result of a stampede at the Cuscatlán stadium. So far it has left around 100 people injured.
The Salvadoran Government Press Secretary confirmed the number of deaths. The incidents occurred when fans tried to enter one of the popular areas of the stadium. Fans were trying to witness a game between Alianza and Futbolistas Asociados Santanecos (FAS).
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After knowing the latest update on the deceased, most of them men, the Salvadoran president, Nayib Bukele, assured on his Twitter account that “an exhaustive investigation will be carried out.”
“The Police and the Prosecutor’s Office will carry out an exhaustive investigation of the events that occurred in the Cuscatlán Stadium. Everyone will be investigated: teams, managers, stadium, ticket office, league, federation, etc.”, he published and added that “whoever the culprits are, they will not remain unpunished.”
Sports tragedy in El Salvador.
12 dead and a hundred injured as a result of a stampede during a game of #soccerin the stadium #Cuscatlán.
The authorities have promised a thorough investigation to determine the causes of the incident and those responsible./jr pic.twitter.com/cM80xi3MYq
— DW Spanish (@dw_espanol) May 21, 2023
Carlos Fuentes, a spokesman for the Comandos de Salvamento told reporters that they transferred some 100 people to different hospitals. While the attention to those affected totals about 500.
The Salvadoran Football Federation (Fesfut) regretted the deaths in a statement. He added that he “will immediately request a report on what happened and will communicate what is pertinent in the shortest possible time.”
🚨🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/rLS2sjy4vO
— FESFUT (@fesfut_sv) May 21, 2023
The president of the National Institute of Sports (INDES) and brother of President Bukele, Yamil Bukele, showed his solidarity with “all the families that today have lost a loved one in this sad event.”
“We have called an extraordinary meeting of the Steering Committee of INDES”, which is the sponsor of the Salvadoran Major League tournament, he announced.
At least 9 dead and 100 injured in a stampede at a stadium in El Salvador pic.twitter.com/ouuQFv0Q6M
– RT in Spanish (@ActualidadRT) May 21, 2023
The Salvadoran League teams expressed their condolences from their social networks.
“Today there are no colors and for the sake of the sport that we are all passionate about, we hope this does not happen again.” This is how the FAS published, the visiting team of the match that was finally suspended.
Luis Ángel Firpo stated that “soccer is in mourning.” “We join the pain of the families of the Alianza fans,” while the Eagle published: “We join the pain of the Alianza family, our most sincere condolences.”
Fesfut announced the suspension of the two games scheduled for Sunday, corresponding to the second leg of the quarterfinals, and announced an urgent meeting with its Sports Venue Safety Commission.
🚨LAST MINUTE🚨 pic.twitter.com/lcJrxBpd9w
— FESFUT (@fesfut_sv) May 21, 2023
