Alianza FC was slapped with a one-year stadium ban and fined $30,000, the El Salvadoran Football Federation announced, after at least 12 people died and dozens were injured in a stampede during Saturday’s game against Club Deportivo FAS.
The incident occurred when Alianza and FAS were playing the second leg of their playoff quarterfinal game at the Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador on Saturday, when play was stopped after a stampede broke out.
The venue is one of the largest stadiums in Central America and has a capacity of 44,836 fans.
The El Salvadoran football Federation said that Deportivo FAS would advance to the semifinals it was declared 2-0 forfeit winners.
Alianza FC, which must play its matches behind closed doors for a year, needed to pay its fine by July 21 , the federation said.
El Salvador president Nayib Bukele has said the National Civil Police and the attorney general’s office would conduct a “thorough investigation” into the events that led to the tragedy.
