Guinea: 56 Dead As Contested Penalty Sparks Chaos At Football Match, Scores Injured In Stadium Stampede

Guinea: A stampede during a football match in Nzérékoré killed at least 56 people, sparked by a referee decision that angered fans. The chaos escalated when police deployed tear gas, causing panic.

Guinea Football Match Stampede: Videos on social media captured chaotic scenes as crowds attempted to climb over stadium walls.

Source : X/@TheNewsTrending

At least 56 people were killed in a devastating stampede during a football match in Guinea's second-largest city, Nzérékoré, the government confirmed. The tragedy unfolded during a match between Nzérékoré and Labé, reportedly sparked by a contested decision from the referee that led to chaos both on and off the pitch.

The events escalated when the referee sent off two Labé players and awarded a controversial penalty kick, angering the visiting team's supporters, BBC reported. According to local media, the crowd hurled stones onto the pitch, prompting police to deploy tear gas, which added to the panic.  

"It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch," a witness told news agency AFP.  

Guinea: About 100 people were killed in a football match in the city of Nzérékoré, near the border with Liberia.

According to reports following the match, severe fights broke out between the fans of the two teams, and many were injured during a mass stampede. pic.twitter.com/wf2qPjcjcI

— Breaking News (@TheNewsTrending) December 2, 2024

Graphic videos and images captured chaotic scenes as crowds attempted to climb over stadium walls. Numerous bodies, including those of children, were seen lying unresponsive on the ground.

⚠️🔞 WARNING: GRAPHIC 18+ 🔞⚠️

❗️🇬🇳 - At least 100 people lost their lives in violent clashes between rival fans during a football match in N'zerekore, Guinea.

This tragic event, which occurred at the end of a game, resulted in hundreds of fatalities. Medical sources confirmed… pic.twitter.com/xV3COoViUE

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) December 2, 2024

A doctor at the local hospital described a grim situation, saying, "Bodies [are] lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the hallways. The morgue is full", as quoted by BBC. The hospital was under tight security, with police guarding entrances and restricting access to medical personnel.

Guinea Football Match Deaths: PM Oury Bah Calls Incident 'Tragic'

Guinea Prime Minister Oury Bah described the incident as "tragic," extending condolences to the bereaved families and pledging comprehensive medical and psychological support for the injured. An official inquiry has been launched to hold those responsible accountable.  

Guinea's football association, Feguifoot, expressed sorrow over the loss, stating that football is meant to "unite hearts and bring minds closer," not cause "tragedy and grief."

The match was part of a tournament honouring Guinea President Mamady Doumbouya, who assumed power in a coup in September 2021. Similar tournaments have been organised across the country, though opposition groups have criticised them as political tools to support Doumbouya's potential candidacy in upcoming elections, as per BBC's report.  

On Monday, the opposition group National Alliance for Change and Democracy accused authorities of bearing "significant responsibility for these grave events." The Guinea government has not yet responded to these allegations.  

This tragedy comes amid growing scrutiny of powerful figures in Guinean football. In July, Aboubacar Sampil, the president of Feguifoot, faced allegations of corruption and facilitating violence at matches. Documents filed with Feguifoot's ethics body also accused him of attempting to influence referees and bypassing protocols in job appointments, according to the report. Sampil has consistently denied all allegations.