A CONTROVERSIAL refereeing decision led to chaos and violence at a football match in southeast Guinea, resulting in the deaths of 56 people, including children, according to provisional reports from the government. The incident occurred during the final of a tournament held in honour of Guinea’s military leader, Mamady Doumbouya, at the Nzerekore stadium, one of the country’s largest cities, on Sunday evening.
Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as violence broke out after a disputed red card in the 82nd minute of the match. Fans began throwing stones, which escalated tensions, prompting police to use tear gas in an attempt to control the crowd. This sparked a deadly scramble at the stadium exits, leading to a stampede.
Amara Conde, a witness to the tragic events, told Reuters: ‘The stone-throwing started and the police joined in, firing tear gas. In the rush and scramble that followed, I saw people fall to the ground, girls and children trampled underfoot. It was horrible.’
A police source confirmed the deadly stampede, adding that people were rushing to escape the chaos, scrambling over high walls in desperation. A video, later authenticated by Reuters, showed dozens of people attempting to climb over barriers to escape.
The situation became even more dire as many of the victims were minors. According to a local official, most of the fatalities were children who were trampled as they tried to flee the violence. The official also described the scene as chaotic, with parents desperately trying to recover the bodies of their children before they were formally counted.
The tragedy has sparked widespread condemnation, with former President Alpha Conde blaming poor organisation for the deadly disaster. ‘In a context where the country is already marked by tensions and restrictions, this tragedy highlights the dangers of irresponsible organisation,’ he said in a statement. Guinea is currently in a transitional period under Doumbouya’s junta, which took power in a 2021 coup, and tensions over the delay in elections have fuelled public unrest.
Opposition group National Alliance for Change and Democracy accused the authorities of using the tournament as a political tool to bolster Doumbouya’s support. ‘The authorities organised these events to gain political favour, in violation of the transition charter,’ the group stated. However, the military junta has not responded to these accusations.
The disaster occurred as Guinea awaits a promised election, which Doumbouya’s junta has been slow to organise. This lack of progress has sparked public frustration, with protests often met by violent crackdowns from security forces. On Monday, Human Rights Watch condemned the junta for its repression of opposition groups, the media, and peaceful protests. It accused the military of using excessive force against demonstrators, including tear gas and gunfire.
In light of the tragedy, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reiterated its commitment to improving stadium safety across Africa. Along with FIFA, CAF has been working on measures to address overcrowding and other safety issues, following several deadly stadium disasters in recent years.
