The Aftermath: What’s next after riot at La Corregidora
Mar. 6, 2022 – There are varying reports over the number of casualties resulting from the chaos Saturday night at Estadio Corregidora. There is, however, seemingly no disputing that it was – as the newspaper El Universal put it – “the darkest day in the history of Mexican soccer.”
We are awaiting more fallout from the massive brawl among fans of Querétaro and Atlas, which began in the stands and spilled onto the pitch after security personnel opened the gates for fans to escape the violence. Photos and videos – of fighting, of destruction, of families fleeing, of prone bodies – have already spread widely across social media; and questions are being raised about fan behavior, safety, and security.
Here’s the latest, as of Sunday afternoon:
-Late Saturday night, Liga MX Executive President Mikel Arriola announced the postponement of all games scheduled for Sunday (makeup dates and times TBD), as a show of solidarity with those affected; and that a full investigation would be conducted.
-Also Saturday night, local authorities reported at least 22 people injured with nine requiring hospitalization. Sunday morning, Querétaro governor Mauricio Kuri issued a report with the latest figures: 26 hospitalized, three already discharged, three in serious condition, ten delicate. Kuri also said there were no deaths, even after various local reports stated that 17 were feared dead. Jalisco governor Enrique Alfaro posted on Twitter that he has been in contact with Kuri, and that “We will remain vigilant until the facts are clarified and until there is justice.”
-Both Atlas and Querétaro, as well as other teams around the league, have issued statements condemning the violence. A sampling of other reactions from the soccer world:
-And then there are the potential ramifications. While there is no official word as of this writing, speculation has arisen as to the degree of sanctions that should be levied – not just against Querétaro; but against the country of Mexico, as a participant in the 2022 World Cup and a potential host of the 2026 World Cup. (#MexicoSinMundial became a trending hashtag.)
The news outlets Diario AS and Bolavip have pointed out that this is not the first time violence among fans has overwhelmed a Liga MX game – listing incidents as recent as the start of Clausura 2022. It’s clear there is still considerable room for improvement, in many aspects, to prevent anything like this from happening again. Will what happened Saturday prove to be the tipping point?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
El Tri Online was founded in December 2017 to serve English-speaking fans of Mexican Soccer. Our mission is to create compelling Mexican soccer content and share it via our website, streaming apps, social media, and any other medium for English-dominant Mexican-American fans of the Mexican National Team, Liga MX, and their players.
Please email us at info@eltrionline.com if you have any questions or to join the team at gigs@eltrionline.com.
