Tragedies in the Crowd: Stampedes That Shook the Sporting World

By Sushant Agarwal

Published on | Jun 05, 2025

When Passion Turns Fatal

Sport brings people together—but when crowds go unchecked, celebration can turn into catastrophe. These tragedies left scars that won’t fade.

IPL 2025 Celebration Ends in Horror

June 4, 2025: 11 fans died in Bengaluru while trying to catch a glimpse of Virat Kohli. RCB's IPL win celebration became a night of mourning.

PSG's Historic Win Marred by Chaos (2025)

May 31, 2025: PSG's UCL win sparks chaos in Paris—2 dead, 190+ injured, 500+ arrested as celebrations spiral out of control.

Eden Gardens Derby Horror (1980)

August 16, 1980: Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal clash in Kolkata led to 16 deaths as violence and panic triggered a deadly stampede.

Kolkata Derby Riot (2012)

A stone hit Mohun Bagan's Rahim Nabi during a high-voltage derby. Match abandoned, 40 injured in post-match clashes.

Test Match Chaos in India (1969)

Riots in Kolkata and Mumbai during India vs Australia matches over bad decisions and fake ticket sales. Fires broke out, no fatalities.

Hillsborough Disaster, UK (1989)

97 football fans died in Sheffield during Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final—caused by overcrowding and poor policing.

Heysel Stadium Collapse, Belgium (1985)

Liverpool vs Juventus final turned deadly as fans rioted and a stadium wall gave way, killing 39 people.

Lima Stadium Riots, Peru (1964)

More than 300 fans were killed and nearly 1,000 injured after riots broke out during an Olympic qualifier between Peru and Argentina.

Luzhniki Stadium Crush, USSR (1982)

66 young fans died in a stampede during a Spartak Moscow vs Haarlem FC match—Russia’s deadliest sporting disaster.

Ivory Coast Qualifier Stampede (2009)

19 fans died, 135 injured in Abidjan during a World Cup qualifier between Ivory Coast and Malawi due to crowd pressure at the gate.

Gate 12 Tragedy, Argentina (1968)

June 23, 1968: 71 fans died at River Plate stadium in Buenos Aires as panic and locked Gate 12 turned a Boca-River match exit into a deadly stampede.

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