One person has died and several others were injured in Peru on Friday during a “flag-waving event” ahead of a derby match. The incident occurred at the Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in the capital, a day before Alianza Lima was set to face Universitario.
Club Alianza Lima offered condolences following the casualties, which media reports indicated included 60 injured.
“We are fully and transparently collaborating with the competent authorities,” the club added in its statement, vowing “total transparency” in helping to clarify the facts of an incident whose cause was not immediately clear.
Alianza Lima ruled out any structural failures at the stadium, as did a fire official.
“Based on what has been assessed, no structure has been affected,” fire official Marco Pajuelo told news channel Canal N, saying an initial inspection showed no one had fallen into a pit. “There hasn’t been any debris.”
Saturday’s match would proceed as planned, the Peruvian Professional Soccer League said.
“We will continue to work closely with the clubs and authorities to promote safe environments both inside and outside the stadiums,” it added in a statement.
