One fan dies and dozens suffer injuries at Alianza Lima pre-match rally
One fan has died and 47 others have been injured following an incident at a pre-match rally ahead of the Peruvian capital’s football derby.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the tragedy outside the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium.
Hundreds of supporters had gathered wearing the home side’s shirts and waving flags in anticipation of the clash against local rivals Universitario de Deportes.
Conflicting reports over structural collapse
Initial updates from the interior ministry suggested that the emergency involved people trapped due to a fallen venue wall.
That version of events has since been strongly disputed by both the Lima-based club and local emergency services.
Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo stated that the southern stands appeared completely intact upon inspection.
“There are no collapsed walls or sections fallen into the pit.”
The host club later released a social media statement confirming the incident was not related to any failure of the sports complex’s facilities.
League confirms derby will proceed
Peruvian Health Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero confirmed the single fatality to the media at a local hospital.
The government official added that three of the injured individuals remain in a critical condition.
Despite the fatal incident occurring outside the stadium, the top-flight fixture will still go ahead as planned on Saturday night.
The Peruvian Professional Football League highlighted its commitment to attendee safety while confirming their ongoing investigation.
Encounters between the historic Lima rivals are traditionally fiercely contested affairs that draw massive crowds and generate intense pre-match atmospheres.
