Up to 17 dead, 22 injured as violence breaks out among fans during Mexico football match

• Overcompetitive fans kill 17 and injure 22 in Mexican football match.
• Chaotic scenes unfold, with fans tumbling over each other and others cowering under a shower of furious kicks and punches.
• Mexican football federation says any sort of violence in a football match is condemnable, because “healthy coexistence” is the goal.

QUERETARO: At least 17 people were reportedly killed, while 22 others sustained injuries after fans started fighting with each other during a football match in Mexico on Sunday, The Mirror reported.

Fans of the reigning Atlas team clashed with the fans of Queretaro during the match because of which the game had to be suspended midway.  Following the incident, the Mexican Football Federation has suspended all of Sunday’s fixtures.

The game between Queretaro and Atlas at the 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. However, some of the angry fans 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 Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor was destroyed during the clashes, with images posted to social media showing injured fans lying prostrate.

“The Mexican Football Federation regrets and condemns the events that occurred this afternoon at Estadio Corregidora in Queretaro, in the match between Queretaro and Atlas,” a statement by Mexican Football Federation said. 

They added that any sort of violence in a football match is condemnable, because “healthy coexistence” is the goal.

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

— With input from AFP.