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In San Salvador, the dead of the mass panic are commemorated
Photo: RODRIGO SURA / EPA
Three days after a stampede in a football stadium in El Salvador with at least twelve dead and hundreds injured, the country's football federation has cancelled the national championship Clausura. "We have decided to cancel the 2022/2023 national championship of El Salvador," the federation and the first division clubs said in a joint statement.
This step was taken "in response to the seriousness of the events" to ensure the safety of the sports facilities. According to this, "there will be no master".
Players plead for continuation of the season
The players' association criticised the cancellation of the season as a "hasty measure" and called on the national association to "reconsider the decision, take our opinion into account for the first time and respect our right to work". It is important to find "immediate solutions" to maintain security in the stadiums.
At the match between the teams Alianza and FAS in the capital San Salvador, there was a mass panic on Sunday. According to reports, there had been a large crowd of fans before the game, with numerous supporters trying to force their way into the stadium. According to the emergency services, the rush to the stadium began after the collapse of a stadium gate.
Twelve people died, and around 100 people were taken to hospitals with injuries. The sports information service writes of a total of over 500 injured.
Among other things, it is being investigated whether too many tickets were sold or whether tickets were counterfeited.
Sanctions against host Alianza
The host Alianza FC will now have to play matches behind closed doors for one year. The club was accused of inadequate and inadequate security measures before and during Saturday's incident in the quarter-final second leg against CD FAS. In addition, Alianza was fined 30,000 US dollars (about 28,000 euros). As a further sanction, the association awarded Fesfut the victory in the game CD FAS.
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