A chaotic “banderazo” rally outside Alianza Lima’s stadium on Friday resulted in one death and 47 injuries as supporters gathered ahead of the Peruvian capital’s high-stakes football derby against Universitario.
One fan has died and 47 others were injured during a chaotic supporter gathering outside Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Lima.
The tragedy occurred on Friday as Alianza Lima fans assembled for a traditional pre-match rally. Peruvian Health Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero confirmed the fatality, noting that three individuals remain in critical condition.
He stated: “Initial reports pointed to a possible partial collapse of stadium walls.”
Despite early reports of a structural failure, Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo dismissed claims of a collapse following a site inspection.
Alianza Lima expressed profound regret, insisting the incident was unrelated to the facility’s integrity. The club stated it “laments profoundly what occurred” and is collaborating with authorities.
The Peruvian Professional Football League confirmed Saturday’s derby will proceed as planned while investigations into the incident continue.