A horrible nightmare'

Stadium stampede in San Salvador leads to crush that kills 12 and injures hundreds

- EL SALVADOR

On May 20, the Cuscatlan Stadium in El Salvador became the site of one of the most deadly football-related tragedies in Central American history. A match between Alianza and FAS, two of the country’s most popular teams, turned deadly when a violent stampede resulted in12 fatalities and left around 500 people needing medical attention.

The match was the 2023 Primera Division Clausura quarter-final playoff between the country’s two most successful teams. Between them, Alianza and FAS have won the last six titles and 36 overall. Although it’s not considered the biggest derby in the country, the rivalry between the two teams is fierce and the match generated huge expectation.

However, the excitement quickly turned into horror. With the match about to start and the stadium already full, hundreds of fans were still demanding to get inside. They eventually tore down the gates and, as they forced their way into the tunnels, some of them fell and were crushed by the stampede.

In the stands, the spectators who were already in their places were pushed to the fences that separated them from the pitch, with some being asphyxiated by the crush. A quarter of an hour into the game there was widespread clamour from the fans to stop the match, but it wasn’t until some of them managed to jump over the fence and onto the pitch itself that the referee called a halt to proceedings.