135 spectators crushed to death in Nzérékoré stadium: What are the worst stadium disasters in history?
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Tragedies at stadiums have turned once-fun sports grounds into scenes of inexplicable disaster, therefore irreversibly changing the course of sports history. These disastrous events over time have revealed inadequate infrastructure, poor crowd control, lack of responsibility, and overcrowding.
The football stadium disaster in Nzérékoré, the second-largest city in the nation, has brought Guinea's sports facilities and government to the forefront.
The tragedy occurred during a popular football event that the ruling military junta had organised to honour President Mamady Doumbouya. The stadium was sadly not built to handle the thousands of people gathering to watch the event.
A contentious ruling by the referee, which infuriated the supporters and heightened emotions, ultimately led to the onset of violence in the stadium.
Using tear gas in the limited area, police, in an attempt to take control of proceedings, only aggravated the situation.
Eyewitnesses report that the facility was "packed to the rafters" and that there was a worrisome lack of suitable exits in the form of only one, limited escape route, which was the primary causative factor.
The strong fumes and stampede of people trying to leave through the one exit caused many to be crushed or injured.
Rights groups claim that collisions between cars carrying authorities from the stadium and supporters fleeing further exacerbated the death toll.
Local human rights organisations have questioned the official death count of 56 deaths claimed by the government, asserting that the count surpasses 135 people, including many children.
Using data from local media, graves, hospitals, and witnesses, these groups have accused the government of downplaying the gravity of the disaster.
The fact that more than 50 victims are yet to be found aggravates the disaster as families still search for explanations.
Protests against the catastrophe have broken out all around the country, with many people blaming the military government and the event organisers.
As a result, the government has declared three days of national mourning, released a statement asking the people not to share "unverified" material, and started an official inquiry.
A sad human tragedy, the Nzérékoré incident is a clear example of poor preparation and disrespect of public safety in major events.
Given the present disaster at Nzérékoré stadium, where competing narratives place the death toll much higher than official government estimates, it is imperative to take historical catastrophes of this kind under serious consideration in light of current worldwide debates on stadium safety.
Examining five of the most horrific stadium tragedies that have ever happened, this article breaks up each event into its fundamental causes, disastrous effects, and important lessons.
1. Hillsborough disaster (Sheffield, England, 1989)
Apart from the devastating catastrophe caused by the Hillsborough accident, the subsequent cover-up severely damaged public confidence in the government, making it one of the worst days in the history of sport.
During an FA Cup semi-final between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool on April 15, 1989, a crush happened in the Liverpool section of the stadium, now known as Leppings Lane.
Although the standing terraces were already crowded, the lack of sufficient crowd control combined with the opening of a gate to release pressure outside the stadium worsened the situation and caused 96 deaths and more than 750 injuries. During the latter anarchy, several people were trampled or flattened against objects.
Established decades later, the Hillsborough Independent Panel found that emergency response mistakes, poor stadium infrastructure, and police incompetence greatly aggravated the disaster.
The crisis led to several changes being implemented in English football. All-seater stadiums were built, crowd control improved, and the general attitude of supporters changed.
2. Estadio Nacional disaster (Lima, Peru, 1964)
The Estadio Nacional in Lima, Peru, is often cited as one of the most catastrophic stadium tragedies in history. On May 24, 1964, during an Olympic qualifying match between Argentina and Peru, a controversial ruling taken by the referee set off disturbances in the 53,000-strong crowd.
When police responded to the demonstrators by storming the pitch with tear gas and baton charges, a stampede and general panic followed as spectators tried to leave the stadium.
Regrettably, the limited number of exits led to the crushing or suffocation of numerous individuals. There were 328 deaths and almost 500 injuries documented.
Unfortunately, the event brought to light the risks associated with poorly constructed stadiums and the use of force by the government, leading to significant criticism.
Although Peru has tried to improve the security of stadiums and apply stronger crowd control policies, Peruvian football supporters will always remember that day with great grief.
3. Accra sports stadium disaster (Accra, Ghana, 2001)
On May 9, 2001, 126 fans attending a football game between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko lost their lives, marking the most tragic sporting disaster in Ghanaian history.
After two late goals from Hearts of Oak, Kotoko supporters grew enraged and started hurling objects onto the pitch, causing anarchy. When police responded by spraying tear gas, stampede and panic ensued as the supporters tried to flee.
Unfortunately, the exits being either barred or not large enough caused many people to be crushed or choked, a recurring pattern in past stadium tragedies.
Investigations by the Ghanaian government changed police and stadium management tactics.
The event also spurred more general debates about authorities' need to safeguard supporters instead of endangering them.
4. Luzhniki disaster (Moscow, Soviet Union, 1982)
The Luzhniki disaster—also known as the "Russian Hillsborough"—occurred during a UEFA Cup match between Spartak Moscow and Haarlem on October 20, 1982. Although the exact number of casualties is still up for discussion, independent research and eyewitness testimony point to a likely far higher tally than the 66 figures recorded in official Soviet statistics.
Spectators faced dire circumstances as they tried to leave the stadium by a single, slick stairway. The Soviet government's denial of specifics, poor crowd management, and insufficient emergency planning further concealed the disaster.
The scale of the catastrophe and its effects on Soviet stadium safety were not fully realised until decades later.
5. Heysel Stadium disaster (Brussels, Belgium, 1985)
The Heysel Stadium disaster, which occurred on May 29, 1985, during the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus, resulted in a casualty of over 600 wounded and 39 deaths. Aggressive clashes among rival supporters led to the stampede and collapse of a retaining wall.
The catastrophe exposed the severe structural weaknesses of Heysel Stadium, such as inadequate policies for crowd separation and deteriorating facilities.
The disaster led to major changes in stadium safety and crowd management all across Europe as well as a five-year ban for English teams from competing in European championships by UEFA.