Argentina: River Plate football game suspended after fan dies in 15

The home club, Argentinian giants River Plate, has decreed a day of mourning as investigations get under way into how the man came to die at the game.

Sunday 4 June 2023 04:30, UK

A football game in Argentina had to be suspended after a supporter fell from the stadium.

The fan, reportedly aged in his 50s, jumped and "died on the spot", said a statement from club River Plate, which had been playing rivals Defensa y Justicia at Estadio Mas Monumental on Saturday.

The match was suspended after 26 minutes due to the incident.

A statement from River Plate said: "The medical service arrived instantly in the area, as did the police and various security agencies.

"The stand where the deceased had his season ticket was at 90% capacity.

"At the time of the fall, there was no third party intervention.

"It was also found that there was no violent situation in the stand or around him."

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Alberto Crescenti, director of Buenos Aires' medical attention services system, told CBS: "He died instantly from severe trauma.

"He fell from approximately 15 metres, there was no push. There was nothing to do."

The stand was closed for 24 hours so police could gather evidence for an investigation into the tragedy.

River Plate decreed a day of mourning, with their flag at half-mast and club activities reduced to a minimum.

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Match referee Fernando Rapallini told football website Ole: "At one point I heard that in the stands they were chanting for us to stop the game.

"They told us that there was a person who was serious, but the death had not yet been confirmed.

"Four or five minutes later they told us that he had died, so the security organisations told me that the game was suspended."