MEXICO CITY — Twenty-two people were injured, two critically, when fans of opposing teams brawled during a soccer match in central Mexico on Saturday.
The match between reigning Liga MX champion Atlas from Guadalajara and host Queretaro was suspended during the 62nd minute of play when fights broke out among fans in the stands, The New York Times reported.
Security personnel opened the gates to the field so that fans could escape from the stands, according to The Associated Press.
At least 22 people have been injured, including two critically, when fans brawled during a soccer game in central Mexico. The match between the host Queretaro and Atlas from Guadalajara was suspended when multiple fights broke out in the stands. https://t.co/KQcdpLbu8r
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 6, 2022
Videos posted on social media showed groups of men dragging people across the concrete outside the stadium, the Times reported. The footage showed men kicking and beating people and ripping off their clothes. Another video showed a topless man beaten and whipped, according to the newspaper.
One fan could be seen pulling a knife to cut the nets of one goal, the AP reported. Others destroyed one side’s bench and some fought in the tunnel to the field.
“The violence in the La Corregidora stadium in Queretaro is unacceptable and unfortunate,” Liga MX said on its Twitter account. “Those responsible for the lack of security in the stadium will be especially punished.”
Liga MX added in a statement that it had begun “an in-depth investigation into what happened in the stands, on the pitch and outside the building during the match.”
The league’s executive president, Mikel Arriola, said matches scheduled for Sunday would be suspended, the Times reported.
Atlas was leading 1-0 when play was suspended, according to Reuters.
“I strongly condemn today’s violence at the Corregidora Stadium,” Mauricio Kuri, the governor of Queretaro State, said in a Twitter post. “I have given instructions to apply the law with all its consequences.”
“So far there is no report of deaths; 22 people injured, nine of them taken to the General Hospital and of these, two are critical,” the Queretaro state civil protection agency said in a statement. “The rest are stable. It should be mentioned that all of those injured are male and at this moment it’s been confirmed that four were from the state of Jalisco.”
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