The MC Alger fans celebrated their team’s second league tital in a row when a tragedy dampened the victory | Credits: MC Alger
MC Alger clinched the final for the second year in a row on Saturday, causing intense euphoria amongst its fans, when a guardrail broke and dozens of people plunged into the lower bleachers of the packed stadium, leaving three people dead and dozens injured.
The tragedy occurred as the main referee blew the final whistle, awarding the local team the league title in their home stadium, which was filled with over 64,200 football enthusiasts, the BBC reported.
Players and staff from MC Alger have visited hospitals to donate blood to the injured, Reuters reported.
“The Beni Messous University Hospital received 38 injured people, while three deaths were recorded,” the Algerian Ministry of Health said in a statement via Facebook, adding: “Ben Aknoun Hospital also received 27 injured people, while Bab El Oued Hospital received 16.”
The local team and league champion were posted once the first death had been confirmed.
An upper stand fence broke
MC Alger wrote on Instagram that it was with “great sadness and sorrow, we received the news of our club’s supporter Younes Amgouzi, who passed away after falling from the upper stands of the July 5 Olympic Stadium, making the match against Najm Magra his last in the shirt of the heart team.”
The club has yet to comment on the additional fatalities.
Local media reports stated that the spectators fell after a fence in the upper stand broke, with ElHeddaf TV’s Facebook page posting a video showing part of a railing collapsing onto the lower tier.
During the match, the fans’ mood was celebratory, with green smoke from flares filling the stadium. Following the tragedy, the league trophy presentation
was postponed.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered his condolences and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
The MC Alger football team won the league for a second consecutive year after drawing 0-0 against NC Magra.
