One person reportedly died and a five-year-old boy was left in a coma as millions went to the streets on Tuesday for Argentina’s World Cup homecoming, which turned into violence.
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In order to win their third World Cup in history, Lionel Messi‘s team defeated France on penalties on Sunday at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
Up to three million people are said to have gathered at the Obelisk monument in the heart of Buenos Aires to celebrate the victory. Thousands more lined the streets early on Tuesday morning as Lionel Scaloni’s team arrived at Ezeiza International Airport and were transported by open-top bus to the AFA headquarters.
Later that day, a second bus procession in the Argentine capital that attracted an estimated four million people restarted the celebration.
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However, the eight hours of festivities had to be stopped short by the authorities after a 24-year-old man died after “jumping up and down” in celebration and falling through a roof.
Just before 4 o’clock local time, Chiqui Tapia, the president of the AFA, said that the bus procession would have to be cancelled.
“They won’t allow us to greet everyone who was at the Obelisk,” he tweeted.
“The security organizations that were escorting us won’t let us continue. I apologize in the name of all the players. A real shame.”
After witnesses reported seeing supporters jumping onto the team bus from bridges, Argentina’s heroes had to be removed by helicopter.
As players were being transported to the AFA headquarters, local television showed scenes of people gazing up into the sky.
The world champions were “flying along the path they were travelling since it was impossible to continue by road with the explosion of delight,” according to Argentine presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti in a tweet.
Let’s continue to celebrate in harmony while expressing our love and admiration for them, she continued.
However, as word got out that the team wouldn’t be going to the Obelisk, where the crowd had gathered once more, but rather welcoming fans from the 25 de Mayo motorway, reports of missiles being thrown at police, vandalism, and supporters stealing a police car and partying on top of it started to surface.
A five-year-old youngster who had a major head injury following an incident in Plaza San Martin also caused concern, in addition to the fan who passed away from his injuries at the Fernandez Hospital.
The toddler, who is still receiving intensive treatment, was struck by a chunk of marble that fell from a monument, according to the national newspaper La Nacion.
The government of Argentina announced that Tuesday will be a bank holiday following Argentina’s thrilling triumph so that the entire 46 million-person nation may “display their deepest joy for the national squad.”
The celebrations were eagerly anticipated by captain Lionel Messi, who scored twice in the exciting 3-3 tie in both regular and extra time.
“I want to be in Argentina to see how crazy it is,” the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner explained.
“I want them to wait for me, I can’t wait to go there and enjoy it with them.”
