QUERETARO, MEXICO - MARCH 06: General view of La Corregidora Stadium closed with a chain the day after a disturb between fans of Queretaro and Atlas took place causing dozens of injured at La Corregidora Stadium on March 06, 2022 in Queretaro, Mexico MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico’s top-division soccer league suspended all matches scheduled for Sunday after a huge brawl among fans during the previous day’s match between host Queretaro and Atlas from Guadalajara, the reigning league champion."We regret and condemn these events, which run contrary to the spirit of our soccer," the Mexican Soccer Federation said in a statement.
The suspension affected three matches scheduled for Sunday.The Saturday match was suspended in the 62nd minute after multiple fights broke out in the stands.
Security personnel opened the gates to the field so that fans, including women and children, could escape the stands.RELATED: Soccer players Kljestan, Hegardt swap jerseys 12 years after hospital visit wishQueretaro state authorities said 23 remained hospitalized.
Ten were in serious condition and three others were in critical condition with very severe injuries.They may have been the three men who were seen unconscious or badly beaten on the ground, being repeatedly kicked and pummeled in videos posted on social media.FIFA, the international soccer governing body, said in a statement that it was "shocked at the tragic incident that took place at La Corregidora stadium in the city of Queretaro during the fixture between Queretaro and Atlas." It called the violence "unacceptable and intolerable."Sacha Kljestan and Christopher Hegardt exchanged jerseys after Charlotte FC played LA Galaxy in North Carolina."FIFA joins the Mexican Football Association.