At least one person was killed, and 47 others were injured following an unfortunate incident at a football rally in Peru’s capital, Lima, ahead of a major derby match on Friday night.
The incident occurred at Alejandro Villanueva Stadium, where fans had gathered before the highly anticipated clash between Alianza Lima and Club Universitario de Deportes, one of the most intense football rivalries in Peru.
According to Peru’s Health Minister, Juan Carlos Velasco, 47 people sustained injuries during the incident, while one fatality was confirmed.
“There has been an unfortunate incident at the stadium in which 47 people have been injured, and sadly, there is one fatality,” Velasco told local media.
Authorities stated that 39 injured individuals were transferred to hospitals across the Lima region, with three reported to be in critical condition.
Initial reports had suggested that the accident may have been caused by the collapse of a section of the stadium wall. However, Alianza Lima later denied those claims, stating in a post on X that the incident was not caused by falling walls or any structural failure within the sports complex.
Further clarification came from Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo, who said that an inspection of the stadium found no signs of structural damage.
“The structure of the southern stands appeared to be in good condition. There are no collapsed walls or sections fallen into the pit,” Pajuelo said. The exact cause of the incident remains unclear, and officials in Peru are continuing their investigation.
Despite the tragedy, the Peruvian football league announced that the scheduled match between Alianza Lima and Universitario de Deportes is currently expected to proceed as planned on Saturday night.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over crowd safety and event management at major sporting gatherings in Peru, especially during high-profile football derbies that draw large crowds.
