At least 56 people have died in a stampede at a soccer match in Guinea’s second-largest city, Nzérékoré, the government said.
Some reports indicate that the incidents were resolved following the decision of the referee, who sent off two players from the visiting team, Labé, and issued a controversial penalty.
An investigation is being launched to find those responsible, Prime Minister Oury Bah said in a statement, calling the events “horrible” and offering condolences to the bereaved.
Another doctor, who did not want to be named, told AFP news agency that “there are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital”.
“Some are lying on the floor in the corridors. They are very cold,” he added.
Local media said the police used tear gas after fans of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones towards the field in anger at the referee.
“It all started with the contested decision of the referee. The fans stormed the field,” one of the witnesses told AFP.
Videos and pictures on social media verified by the BBC show chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with large crowds trying to climb over walls and many bodies on the ground.
Some of those lying on the ground unresponsive appear to be children.
Paul Sakouvogi, a local journalist in Nzérékoré, told the BBC that internet access in the region was restricted, and that police were guarding the hospital entrance where the wounded were being treated.
“I saw six police officers stationed in front of the three doors of the hospital. They only allowed health workers to enter the hospital, others were told to go back the way they came.”
Prime Minister Bah paid tribute to the many dead and promised full medical and psychological support to all the injured.
Guinea’s football federation, Feguifoot, called it a moment of “great pain” and said football is meant to “unite hearts and bring minds together” not “tragedy and sorrow”.
“May the souls of the dead rest in eternal peace,” said the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in a statement issued by its president, Patrice Motsepe.
Guinea is one of many countries – including Ethiopia, Gambia, Chad, Sierra Leone – currently banned from hosting international football matches because CAF says its stadiums do not meet international standards.
That meant that when Guinea took part in the recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, all their home games had to be played in neighboring Ivory Coast.
Increased scrutiny
Thousands of spectators were present when the massacre took place in the match between Nzérékoré and Labé, local news website MediaGuinée reported.
Sunday’s game was part of a tournament to honor President Mamady Doumbouya, who took power in a coup in September 2021.
The opposition says the games are part of a wider campaign to gain support for the junta leader before running for president.
On Monday, the opposition National Alliance for Change and Democracy again accused the authorities of being “highly responsible for these terrible incidents”.
The government has not yet responded to this.
In recent months, increased attention has been paid to the powerhouses in Guinean football.
In July, Aboubacar Sampil, who is the president of the national football association Feguifoot, was investigated for corruption and violence in football.
His younger colleague accused Mr. Sampil, who also leads the board of directors of the local club ASK, of inciting violence and trying to influence the referees in the match ASK lost 1-0 to Milo FC.
The latter team had to leave the game and had trouble leaving the ground safely, according to documents filed with Feguifoot’s ethics committee.
Among other things, Mr Sampil has also been accused of violating the protocol and appointing people to jobs illegally.
He has always denied any wrongdoing.
Additional reporting by Armand Mouko and Richard Irvine-Brown
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