Three die in Algiers football stadium tragedy

Three people have died and 74 are injured after falling from the upper stand of a stadium in Algeria just after the final whistle as MC Alger won the league title, as reported by The North Africa Post on June 23rd. 

A historic night of celebration for the local football team, Mouloudia Club d’Alger (MCA), which secured its ninth title, quickly turned into a national tragedy on the evening of June 22nd.

At the 5 July Stadium, a metal barrier and a section of the southern stand gave way, sending numbers of football fans down several meters into the lower levels of the stadium.

According to the health ministry, more than 70 people have been treated in three hospitals, and most have since been released.

Players and staff from MC Alger have reportedly gone to hospitals to donate blood to the injured.

Meanwhile, on social media, fans have demanded accountability and decried the deterioration of the stadium which had yet to be renovated since its construction in 1972. 

The tragedy calls into question Algeria’s suitability to host international football competitions. The country recently lost its bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and this disaster reinforces concerns over authorities’ preparedness required for major sporting events.

The North Africa Post, BBC News