The Cuscatlán Stadium experienced the tragedy up close.
Photo: Alex Pena/Getty Images
The National Institute of Sports of El Salvador suspended this Monday the sponsorship of the Major League de Fútbol after the death of at least 12 people in a human stampede last Saturday night. In a statement, the institute reported that after an extraordinary meeting of its board of directors it was decided to “terminate, as of this date, the sports cooperation agreement between INDES and the First Division of professional soccer and that made the National Institute of the Sports of El Salvador in commercial sponsor of the Major League of the local soccer”.
“Remind the general population that the law, at this time, does not authorize us to take other types of more drastic actions in situations like these. However, we are working hand in hand with the corresponding authorities to collaborate and prevent misfortunes like the one experienced last night from happening again,” added the Institute chaired by Yamil Bukele, brother of President Nayib Bukele.
The investigations around what is considered the greatest sports tragedy in the country, where more than 100 people were injured, show that an overselling of tickets to the return game for the quarterfinals between Alianza and Futbolistas Asociados Santanecos (FAS), would have motivated The event.
In a press conference, the representative of the Salvadoran government, Carlos Bidegain, indicated that counterfeit tickets were even sold to enter the Cuscatlán Stadium, which has a capacity for more than 40,000 people. “The same fans have reiterated the overselling of tickets, counterfeit tickets, closing gates, the scarce presence of stadium personnel at each entrance and the box office,” said the official.
Keep reading:
–Overselling tickets could have been the main cause of the tragedy at the Cuscatlán stadium in El Salvador
–FIFA expresses its condolences for the death of 12 fans in a stadium in El Salvador
–Stampede in El Salvador: They denounce that people blocked the passage of ambulances and medical personnel to the Cuscatlán Stadium
