Fatal Crowd Surge at Guinea Football Match Claims Dozens of Lives

The government of Guinea has reported that a minimum of 56 individuals died in a crowd surge during a football game held in Nzérékoré, the nation’s second-largest urban center. However, this official death count is contested by numerous people within the country, who estimate the actual fatality figure to be nearer to 100. According to some accounts, the situation escalated after a referee’s decision to eject two players from the visiting team, Labé, and grant a contentious penalty kick. Prime Minister Oury Bah announced in a statement that an investigation is being initiated to identify those accountable, describing the incidents as “tragic” and extending his sympathies to those who lost loved ones. An anonymous doctor informed the AFP news agency that “bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital”. The doctor further stated, “Others are lying on the floor in the hallways. The morgue is full.” Local media outlets reported that law enforcement personnel deployed tear gas after fans of the Labé team, the visitors, hurled stones onto the field in protest against the referee’s actions. An eyewitness recounted to AFP, “It all started with a contested decision by the referee. Then fans invaded the pitch.” The BBC verified social media videos and images depicting disorderly scenes outside the venue, showing significant crowds trying to scale walls and multiple bodies lying on the ground. Among those observed motionless on the ground, some appeared to be children. Paul Sakouvogi, a journalist based in Nzérékoré, informed the BBC that the stadium was “packed to the rafters” with thousands of attendees. Mr. Sakouvogi explained, “There was only one exit… some people climbed over the walls to get out and in the panic, all the spectators headed for the exit, which was very small. Those who couldn’t hold on ended up on the floor.” He further noted that internet connectivity in the area had been limited and that police officers were stationed at the hospital entrance where the wounded were receiving care. He stated, “I observed six police pick-ups positioned in front of the three entrances to the hospital. They allowed only the medical staff to access the hospital, while the others were told to go back the way they came.” Prime Minister Bah has honored the memory of the numerous fatalities and pledged comprehensive medical and psychological assistance to all individuals who sustained injuries. Feguifoot, Guinea’s national football organization, characterized the event as a period of “intense pain,” asserting that football’s purpose is to “unite hearts and bring minds closer,” rather than to instigate “tragedy and grief.” The Confederation of African Football (Caf), through a statement from its president, Patrice Motsepe, expressed, “May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace.” Guinea is among several nations, including Ethiopia, Gambia, Chad, and Sierra Leone, that are presently prohibited from hosting international football games due to Caf’s assessment that their facilities do not comply with global benchmarks. Consequently, when Guinea participated in recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifying rounds, all its home fixtures were required to take place in the adjacent country of Ivory Coast. Mr. Sakouvogi indicated that the stadium where the crowd surge happened on Sunday is an incomplete development initiated several decades prior. The game on Sunday was part of a competition held to honor President Mamady Doumbouya, who assumed control through a coup in September 2021. The opposition faction alleges that these matches are components of a broader effort to garner public backing for the junta leader in anticipation of a potential presidential bid. On Monday, the National Alliance for Change and Democracy, an opposition collective, additionally charged the authorities with bearing “significant responsibility for these grave events.” The government has not issued a reply regarding this accusation. Over recent months, prominent individuals within Guinean football have faced heightened examination. In July, Aboubacar Sampil, who serves as the president of Feguifoot, the nation’s football governing body, became the focus of an inquiry into corruption and aggression within the sport. A subordinate colleague accused Mr. Sampil, who also chairs the board of directors for the local team ASK, of enabling violence and attempting to sway referees during a match where ASK was trailing 1-0 against Milo FC. According to documentation submitted to Feguifoot’s ethics committee, Milo FC was compelled to discontinue the game and encountered difficulties departing the venue securely. Additionally, Mr. Sampil has faced allegations of circumventing established procedures and independently assigning individuals to positions. He has consistently refuted all accusations of misconduct. Further reporting was contributed by Sofia Ferreira Santos, Armand Mouko, and Richard Irvine-Brown. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.