Deadly Stampede in Guinea as Football Fans Clash After Controversial Referee Call.
A tragic incident has unfolded in the southeastern city of N’Zerekore, Guinea, where at least 56 people were killed in a violent clash between rival football fans, leading to a deadly stampede.
The violence broke out during a local football match on Sunday afternoon, when supporters of the visiting team, Labe, reacted angrily to a controversial referee decision by hurling stones onto the pitch. This prompted the police to intervene with tear gas, further escalating the situation.
Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene, with fans storming the field and the violence quickly spiraling out of control. “It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch,” a witness told the AFP news agency.
The ensuing stampede resulted in the deaths of at least 56 people, according to the Guinean government. The toll is expected to rise as hospital services struggle to cope with the influx of victims.
The violence also led to the vandalization and arson of the N’Zerekore police station, further heightening the chaos in the city.
The football match was part of a tournament organized in honor of Guinea’s military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a coup in 2021 and has since installed himself as president.
The tournament has been a source of controversy, with the National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy (ANAD), a coalition of opposition parties, condemning it as an attempt to advance Doumbouya’s “illegal and inappropriate candidacy” in the upcoming presidential election.
Doumbouya’s actions since the coup, including his promotion of himself to the rank of army general, have drawn international criticism and raised concerns about the country’s democratic future.
The tragic events in N’Zerekore serve as a stark reminder of the human toll that can result from the intersection of sports, politics, and unrest.
