Dozens Killed in Clashes at Guinea Football Match
Deadly Clashes Erupt at Football Match in guinea, Dozens Feared Dead
N’Zerekore, Guinea - A football match in Guinea’s second-largest city descended into chaos Sunday, leaving dozens dead in violent clashes between fans, according to hospital sources.
Graphic scenes of the aftermath, with bodies strewn across the hospital floor and overflowing morgue, paint a grim picture of the tragedy.
“There are bodies 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,” a doctor at the local hospital told reporters,speaking on condition of anonymity.Another doctor confirmed ”dozens of dead,” with the final toll still uncertain.
Videos circulating on social media, which have yet to be independently verified, depict scenes of pandemonium outside the stadium, with numerous bodies lying on the ground.
Eyewitnesses described the violence erupting after a controversial referee decision,prompting fans to storm the pitch.”It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Than fans invaded the pitch,” a witness recounted, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.
the match was part of a tournament organized in honor of Guinea’s junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a September 2021 coup and has since declared himself president. Such tournaments have become increasingly common in recent weeks as Doumbouya eyes a potential run in upcoming presidential elections and political alliances take shape.
N’Zerekore, located in southeastern Guinea approximately 350 miles from the capital, Conakry, has a population of roughly 200,000.
Tragedy Strikes Guinean Football Pitch: Dozens Feared Dead After Fan Clashes
N’Zerekore, Guinea - A football match in Guinea’s second-largest city erupted into deadly violence on Sunday, leaving dozens feared dead following clashes between fans.
Horrific images from the local hospital depict a scene of devastation, with bodies lining the floors and overflowing morgues. “There are bodies 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,” a doctor at the hospital told reporters on condition of anonymity. Another medical professional confirmed “dozens of dead,” but the final toll remains unclear.
Disturbing videos circulating on social media, even though unverified, show chaotic scenes of the aftermath outside the stadium, with multiple bodies scattered on the ground.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the violence was sparked by a controversial referee decision during the match, leading enraged fans to storm the pitch. “it all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” a witness shared, requesting anonymity for safety concerns.
The match was part of a tournament organized in honour of Guinea’s junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, who came to power through a coup in September 2021 and subsequently declared himself president. Such tournaments have become increasingly prevalent in recent weeks as Doumbouya reportedly prepares for a potential run in forthcoming presidential elections, with political alliances taking shape.
The tragedy unfolded in N’Zerekore, a city of approximately 200,000 residents located in southeastern Guinea, roughly 350 miles from the capital, Conakry.