Mexico football match suspended after violence breaks out in stands

Mexico City (AFP) – A match between Mexican football clubs was called off Saturday 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.

As security guards opened the stadium doors to allow fans to get to safety, some instead continued to exchange blows, forcing the game to be stopped and sending the players to the locker room.

Chaotic scenes unfolded, with fans tumbling over each other and others cowering under a shower of furious kicks and punches. 

A VAR monitor was destroyed during the clashes, with images posted to social media showing injured fans lying prostrate.

The executive president of Mexico’s Liga-MX slammed the events on Twitter, writing: “Those responsible for the lack of the security at the stadium will be exemplarily punished. The safety of our players and fans is priority!”

Atlas club demanded in a statement that authorities and the league open an investigation into the fight in order to determine “responsibilities to those involved” and ensure “the full force of the law will be applied.”

Queretaro governor Marucio Kuri said the owners of the club “and institutions must answer for the facts.”

“I have given instructions for the law to be applied with all its consequences,” he tweeted.