Extreme violence in Querétaro brings disgrace on Liga MX

In what is being called the darkest day in Mexican soccer history, extreme violence in the stands at the Estadio Corregidora spilled out onto the pitch, forcing the cancellation of the Querétaro-Atlas match.

There have been wildly varying reports about the mayhem – some claiming up to 17 dead but without citing any official sources – while official reports issued Sunday morning indicated there had been 26 people hospitalized, three of them in serious condition.

Liga MX president Mikel Arriola canceled Sunday’s Liga MX schedule and announced later that the calendar might be suspended even further if any deaths are confirmed.

Saturday night sports talk shows in Mexico featured wall-to-wall coverage of the rampage with heavy emphasis on the lack of security inside stadium.

Black mark for Liga MX

Atlas was defeating the host Gallos Blancos 1-0 in minute 63 when the pitch invasions occurred. Wide angle television shots of the game appeared to show lots of disturbances in the stands as groups of opposing fans clashed. The situation worsened as hooligans from each side started tearing down fencing separating the fan groups.

As the violence increased – thugs were breaking the plastic seat backs in the bleachers and using them as weapons – families and other attendees fled down onto the field to escape the savagery.

Members of both teams quickly tried to assist the fans and the league officials in attendance also sought to usher the frantic aficionados to safety, but the battleground soon shifted to the pitch.

It was clear that there was an irresponsible lack of police presence (the responsibility of the home team for which Querétaro can expect severe punishment, perhaps even disaffiliation from Liga MX) while journalists on the scene reported that there was a contingent of riot police outside the stadium that was slow to react to the unfolding scene inside La Corregidora.

Analysts sternly criticized team ownership and local officials for the complete lack of preparedness, pointing out that the Atlas-Querétaro rivalry has a bitter history.

Arriola declared that Liga MX authorities will look into the matter and assist local and state prosecutors in carrying out a full investigation.