Football rally in Peru leaves one dead and dozens injured

Football Rally in Peru Leaves One Fan Dead, Dozens Injured

A fatal incident occurred during a football match in Lima, Peru, resulting in a fatality and multiple injuries among spectators. The event took place at Alejandro Villanueva Stadium, where fans gathered to support Alianza Lima ahead of a rivalry game against Universitario de Deportes. Officials are currently examining the cause of the tragedy.

Peruvian Health Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero confirmed the death at a Lima hospital, stating that 47 individuals were affected by the event—three in critical condition. The stadium’s southern stands, however, were reported to be structurally sound by Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo, who noted that no walls or sections had collapsed into the pit.

“There are no collapsed walls or sections fallen into the pit,” Pajuelo said.

Despite initial claims of structural collapse, the Peruvian Professional Football League emphasized that investigations are ongoing and reiterated its dedication to ensuring the safety of all attendees. Alianza Lima also released a statement clarifying that the incident was not linked to the stadium’s structural failure, contradicting earlier reports from the interior ministry.

The interior ministry had initially shared on X that 40 firefighters rushed to the scene to rescue people trapped within a structure. However, the club’s statement dismissed this as preliminary information, leaving questions about the exact cause of the chaos. The scheduled match between Alianza Lima and Universitario de Deportes will proceed as planned, according to the league.