El Salvador soccer club, Alianza FC, has been banned from allowing fans to attend their home games for one year following a deadly stampede incident. On June 30th, 2019, a match between Alianza and Santa Tecla FC at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador ended in tragedy when a stampede occurred in the stands. At least three people were killed and more than 20 were injured in the incident.
The stampede was reportedly caused by fans attempting to enter the stadium without tickets. As a result of the incident, the Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) has decided to suspend Alianza from allowing fans to attend their home games for one year. The suspension is effective immediately and will last until June 30th, 2020.
The FESFUT has also imposed a fine of $50,000 on Alianza FC and has ordered them to improve safety measures at the Estadio Cuscatlan. The stadium will now be required to have metal detectors and additional security personnel on duty during matches. Additionally, the FESFUT has ordered that Alianza’s matches be played in an empty stadium for the duration of the suspension.
The tragedy at Estadio Cuscatlan has been a devastating blow to El Salvador’s soccer community. Alianza FC is one of the most popular teams in the country and their matches are often attended by thousands of passionate fans. The suspension of fans from attending their matches for one year will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the team’s performance and morale.
The FESFUT’s decision to suspend Alianza FC from allowing fans to attend their home games for one year is a necessary step in ensuring the safety of all soccer fans in El Salvador. It is hoped that the suspension will serve as a reminder to all clubs and stadiums to take safety seriously and to ensure that proper security measures are in place at all times.
