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Mexican soccer league suspends all Sunday matches after fan riot

jack baer
Staff writer
·2-min read
Supporters of Atlas fight with supporters of Queretaro during the Mexican Clausura tournament football match between Queretaro and Atlas at Corregidora stadium in Queretaro, Mexico on March 5, 2022. - A match between Mexican football clubs was called off March 5, 2022 after violence by opposing fans spilled onto the field. The game between Queretaro and Atlas at La Corregidora stadium in the city of Queretaro -- the ninth round of the 2022 Clausura football tournament -- was in its 63rd minute when fights between opposing fans broke out. (Photo by EDUARDO GOMEZ / AFP) (Photo by EDUARDO GOMEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Supporters of Atlas fight with supporters of Queretaro during a soccer match Saturday. (Photo by EDUARDO GOMEZ / AFP)

Warning, the following article contains video of disturbing and graphic violence.

A Mexican soccer match between Querétaro and Atlas ended in horrifying fashion on Saturday, with a massive fan riot.

The Liga MX match was suspended and not resumed after pausing in the 60th minute. Fans could be seen fighting across Querétaro's Estadio Corregidora, from the stands to on the field. Some images, which Yahoo Sports is not sharing, showed multiple bodies lying motionless on the ground.

TV Azteca's David Medrano Felix later reported an initial death toll of 17, which remains unofficial as authorities sort out the aftermath. An official report claimed 44 people had been wounded, with two serious cases and none dead. A different report from the body governing emergency services had the number of wounded at 22, all men. Nine of those were transferred to the hospital and two are in critical condition.

Jalisco governor Enrique Alfaro himself said there had been no deaths Saturday night.

Liga MX president Mikel Arriola tweeted out a statement denouncing the violence, which roughly translated to:

Unacceptable and unfortunate violence in the Estadio Corregidora in Querétaro. Those responsible for the lack of security in the stadium will be punished as an example. The safety of our players and fans is priority! We will continue reporting.

A subsequent statement from Liga MX announced the league had initiated an in-depth investigation into incidents that took place both inside and outside the stadium and asked the disciplinary commission of the Mexican Football Federation to prepare for sanctions. Criminal complaints will also be filed for the acts of violence.

The statement confirmed some people had been hospitalized, but provided no numbers nor indication of any deaths. The match will reportedly be resumed at a later date, as stipulated by league rules.

Querétaro governor Mauricio Kuri also denounced the violence, demanding that the institutions involved answer for what led to the riot, while Querétaro and Atlas released their own statements calling for the authorities to hold the perpetrators responsible.

Hours later, Mexico's TUDN reported that all Liga MX games scheduled for Sunday had been suspended, which the league's players union had requested.