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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Michael Howie

Guinea stampede: More than 50 football fans killed in crush 'sparked by disputed penalty'

People are seen scrambling to safety in Nzerekore in a grab taken from a video on social media - (Social media via REUTERS)

More than 50 people have been killed in a crush at a football match in Guinea, the country’s government has said, with a number of children reported to be among the dead.

A stampede followed violent clashes during the match in southern Guinea's largest city Nzerekore, local media and a political coalition reported late on Sunday.

The stampede broke out on Sunday afternoon at the match during a local tournament between the Labe and Nzerekore teams in honour of Guinea's military leader Mamadi Doumbouya, Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah said on social media platform X.

"During the stampede, victims were recorded," Mr Bah said, without further details about the casualties.

The regional authorities were working to restore calm in the area, he added.

The government later said around 56 people were killed in the incident.

The stampede resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries, according to the National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy, a coalition of political parties, which called for an investigation.

Local media reported the chaos followed a disputed penalty that angered fans, many of them clashing and pouring onto the open soccer field at the crowded stadium.

Among the victims were children, according to Media Guinea and videos that appeared to be from the scene.

Media Guinea said some of the injured being treated at a regional hospital are in critical condition.

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