2 people critically injured as fan violence ends football match (VIDEO)
A Mexican football match had to be ended in the 62nd minute when a riot broke out and fans attacked each other, leaving 22 people injured and at least two fans in a critical condition.
Queretaro were trailing 1-0 at home to reigning Liga MX champions Atlas when a number of fights broke out in the terraces and security had to open the gates to the pitch so that some fans – including women and children – could escape the violence.
Some players from each side fled to the locker room and others stayed near the bench while attempting to calm the angry fans down.
The brawls then made their way to the field, where yobs punched and kicked each other, including attacks with chairs and metal bars.
Helpless Father try to safe his Children 😭Family flees the field after violence in the Querétaro stadium. The football match between #Queretaro and #Atlas was suspended ⚽️.#Mexico#Violence#Mexican#Football#queretarovsatlas#Violenciapic.twitter.com/7TE7Ftcuix
— Vinit Sharma (@KumarVk66) March 6, 2022
Bad scenes at the Queretaro vs Atlas Match 🇲🇽People killed 😱😭Football should never result in #violence. Prayers with the victims 🙏 pic.twitter.com/yP0N9PijdJ
— Captain CR7🐐🇵🇹 (@azumah_razak) March 6, 2022
"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," confirmed Queretaro state's civil protection agency on Twitter.
"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."
So... This happened in the Querétaro v Atlas game today... #LigaMXpic.twitter.com/1RSBUV6xmA
— Woods 🪐 (@TBoneWoodz) March 6, 2022
This game in #Queretaro vs #atlas is the craziest soccer riot I’ve ever seen on live TV. #LigaMX Queretaro fans decided to bum rush the field and just beat up everyone wearing an atlas shirt in the whole stadium. Women and children fleeing in panic. pic.twitter.com/DDHlQSKuF9
— facundo segundo (@felixthemichael) March 6, 2022
Atlas hail from Guadalajara, which is pound-for-pound boxing king Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez's home and is Jalisco's capital.
Graphic videos showed fans bloodied and motionless on the ground, with some stripping naked in scenes that shocked social media viewers.
One fan was seen pulling out a knife to slash the netting of one goal, and other damage caused to the Estadio Corregidora included a bench being destroyed as some fought in the tunnel the players emerge from.
Queretaro state Governor Mauricio Kuri said that Queretaro's owners will have to answer for the unrest and said he had "given instructions that the law be applied with all of its consequences."
Liga MX president Mikel Arriola tweeted that the culprits would be "punished in an exemplary manner".
"The safety of our players and fans is a priority,” he added. The league also announced that a full investigation is already underway.
Derivado de los hechos registrados la tarde de este sábado en el estadio Corregidora, la CEPC informa que hasta el momento no se tiene reporte de personas fallecidas, 22 personas lesionadas, 9 de ellos trasladados al Hospital General y de estos, dos de ellos de gravedad.
— Coordinación de Protección Civil del Estado de Qro (@PCIVILQRO) March 6, 2022
El resto se encuentran estables. Cabe señalar que todos los lesionados son masculinos, y hasta este momento se tiene confirmado que cuatro son provenientes del estado de Jalisco.
— Coordinación de Protección Civil del Estado de Qro (@PCIVILQRO) March 6, 2022
Among the most prominent voices condemning the violence was former Barcelona defender and ex-Mexico men's national team captain Rafael Marquez, who began his career with Atlas and was once their coach.
"Unfortunately, what is happening in Queretaro... is happening in my country," Marquez lamented.
"This isn’t about Mexican football. It’s about Mexican culture," said another viewer.
"The Mexican system. The sheer and utter lack of respect for human life in the country of Mexico. Barbaric. Murderers."
Inadmisible y lamentable la violencia en el estadio la Corregidora de Querétaro. Se castigará ejemplarmente a los responsables por la ausencia de seguridad en el estadio. La seguridad d nuestros jugadores y afición es prioridad! Seguiremos informando
— Mikel Arriola (@MikelArriolaP) March 6, 2022
This isn’t about Mexican football. It’s about Mexican culture. The Mexican system. The sheer and utter lack of respect for human life in the country of Mexico. Barbaric. Murderers. #Queretaro#LigaBBVAMX#ligamx#mexico
— Steven Hoischelbaum (@solomonworschel) March 6, 2022
"What is seen in Mexico is pure violence of people who take refuge in soccer because there they find shelter to carry out their crimes and misdeeds," said a Liga pundit. "[They use] soccer as an excuse."
"That is why I insist so much that it is in the hands of the clubs to make brave decisions regarding their ultras."
The Liga MX has suspended the rest of its Matchday 9 fixtures in response to the violence.
