A pre-match football rally in Lima, Peru, turned deadly on Saturday, leaving one fan dead and dozens injured just hours before a highly anticipated local derby. The incident occurred outside Alejandro Villanueva Stadium, where hundreds of supporters had gathered to cheer on home team Alianza Lima ahead of their clash with rivals Universitario de Deportes.
Peruvian Health Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero confirmed the fatality at a Lima hospital, stating that 47 people were injured in the chaos—three of whom remain in critical condition. Initial reports circulating on social media suggested structural failures at the stadium, with claims that walls had collapsed and trapped attendees. However, officials quickly disputed these accounts.
Fire Chief Marcos Pajuelo inspected the scene and told reporters, "There are no collapsed walls or sections fallen into the pit." He noted that the southern stands appeared structurally sound, contradicting earlier speculation. The interior ministry had initially posted on X that 40 firefighters responded to an emergency involving "people trapped in a structure."
Alianza Lima released a statement on X clarifying, "According to the preliminary information available, the incident is not related to the collapse of walls or structural facilities of the sports complex." The Peruvian Professional Football League echoed this, emphasizing its "commitment to the safety and well-being of all attendees" while confirming that Saturday night's match would proceed as scheduled.
Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the incident, which remains unclear amid the conflicting reports. The tragedy has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory football occasion, raising questions about crowd management and safety protocols at sporting events in Peru.