Gimnasia y Esgrima players react after police fired tear gas and entered Juan Carmelo Zerillo Stadium during the Argentina 2022 Professional Football League match between Gimnasia y Egrima and Boca Juniors in La Plata, Argentina on May 6. 10, 2022. (Photo by ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP)
One person died on Thursday when violent clashes near a football match outside Buenos Aires between Boca Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima flooded the stadium and onto the pitch, authorities said.
Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas outside the Carmelo Zerillo stadium in La Plata, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of the Argentine capital as they tried to prevent fans from flooding the already-existing venue crowded.
Unrest continued inside, where shocked spectators were witnessed jostling over the fence to escape the violence and enter the courtyard.
“I can confirm that one person has died. This person died of cardiac arrest,” said Sergio Berni, minister of security for the province of Buenos Aires, where the first-place match of the Argentine league was held.
Play was suspended after nine minutes until further notice “due to lack of security (security),” said referee Hernan Mastrangelo, minutes after the players and technical staff had left the field to enter the room. dressing.
“It affects all of us on the pitch,” he added. “The air becomes untreatable. The situation is out of control and there is no guarantee of security.”
Fans react after police fired tear gas and entered Juan Carmelo Zerillo Stadium during the Argentina 2022 Professional Football League match between Gimnasia y Egrima and Boca Juniors in La Plata, Argentina on October 6, 2022 (Photo by ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP)
Authorities at San Martin hospital in La Plata confirmed the death of a 57-year-old man from cardiac arrest as he was transported from the stadium to the hospital.
Some fans, including children being led or carried by adults, rushed out of the stands and onto the pitch, where people were seen sitting or lying down appearing to be recovering from tear gas exposure. .
The match comes at a crucial time in Argentina’s top league, with four rounds to go and Gimnasia playing for their last chance to secure the title at home, while Boca is looking for a win to return. first class.
“What would become a party ends at this. Everything that has happened is heartbreaking for us, it’s huge and we regret it,” Boca Juniors coach Hugo Ibarra told reporters.
The deadly violence happened five days after stampede in Indonesia by police firing tear gas Inside a packed stadium left at least 131 people dead, including 32 children.
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