56 people are killed in a stadium crush in Guinea after a controversial call by the referees

It all started with a controversial call by the referee at a soccer game in southeast Guinea, which led to fighting and a crush that killed 56 people, the government said on Monday.

The deaths happened at a stadium in Nzerekore, one of Guinea’s biggest towns, during the final of a tournament honoring Mamady Doumbouya, the country’s military leader.

The government said in a statement that they would look into what happened after some fans threw stones, which caused fear and a crush.

Reuters checked the film and saw that dozens of people were climbing over high walls to get away.

People rush in Nzerekore, where police say there was a stampede after fights at a soccer game.
In this still picture from a social media video from December 1, 2024, people run in Nzerekore, Guinea, where officials say a deadly stampede happened at a stadium after fans got into a fight during a soccer game. REUTERS Buys Licensing Rights for Social Media, opens in new tab
An anonymous official from the city’s government said that many of the victims were children who were caught in the chaos after cops started firing tear gas. The official said there was a lot of chaos and misunderstanding, and some parents were getting bodies before they were officially counted.

Picture and video files that were shared online showed a line of victims on the ground. Over a dozen still bodies, some of them children, could be seen in one video.

Reuters couldn’t quickly check that footage to make sure it was real.
The National Alliance for Change and Democracy, an opposition group, said that the government was to blame for holding tournaments to boost support for Doumbouya’s political campaign, which was against the terms of a transition charter and before the promised presidential poll.

The military junta didn’t say anything right away in answer to that accusation.