The cause of death is unknown, however Sergio Berni, the province of Buenos Aires’ security minister, told local television that the fan passed away from a cardiac condition.
In Argentina, a soccer fan was killed, and a match between Gimnasia La Plata and Boca Juniors was called off on Thursday after tear gas fired by police outside the stadium drifted into the stadium, making it difficult for players and spectators to breathe.
The cause of death was unknown, but Sergio Berni, the security minister for the province of Buenos Aires, told local television that the fan died of a heart attack as he was leaving the Juan Carmelo Zerillo Stadium in La Plata.
The incident occurred just five days after a stampede at a soccer game in Indonesia killed at least 131 people as fans attempted to flee a riot and tear gas fired by police, in one of the world’s worst sporting disasters.
According to authorities in Argentina, Gimnasia fans were attempting to force their way into an already crowded stadium, and police used rubber bullets and tear gas to keep them out.
Players were seen covering their faces, while supporters entered the field as they tried to escape the tear gas. The Argentine top-flight match was stopped after nine minutes.
“My two-year-old son couldn’t breathe,” Gimnasia player Leonardo Morales told ESPN. We are desperate and concerned about everyone in the stands.
“We were playing a regular football game when it turned into this and the feeling that our relatives were about to die.”
Berni stated that his ministry would investigate the incident, adding that too many tickets may have been sold, but home team Gimnasia stated that this was not the case and that they had followed all security protocols.
“We will demand an investigation into what occurred until the perpetrators of this tragic day… are identified,” the club said in a statement.
