Celebrations following Argentina’s victory over France on Sunday in the World Cup final left scores of casualties and arrests.
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The media “RPP Noticias” said that the monster rally in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, left 31 people injured.
At least 16 people had to be taken to the hospital. Some suffered polytrauma from falls, others were attacked with knives.
El detonante de la Decision Tomada. The Vuelta olímpica ended in helicopters hoping they would survive the recovery programmed for the stage. pic.twitter.com/VOQAQg1Qn5
— Urgente24.com (@U24noticias) December 20, 2022
In addition, according to The Buenos Aires Times, 13 people were arrested, including four people in an incident with police at the obelisk. More than 800 calls to emergency services were reportedly received during the celebrations.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported preliminary information, unconfirmed by official sources, that eight police officers were injured during the interventions.
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A helicopter parade
On Tuesday, more than five million people gathered on the Albiceleste route between the Argentine Federation (AFA) complex, 32 kilometers away, and the heart of the city of three million, according to a city source.
The Argentine team is currently flying a helicopter over Buenos Aires as it became impossible for the bus to go over the wall of 4 MILLION PEOPLE ON THE ROAD!
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) December 20, 2022
The scale of the celebrations prevented the champions from circulating in the streets. TV footage showed a supporter plunging from a road bridge onto the players’ bus to complete his plunge into the crowd, according to AFP.
Los Campeones del Mundo están sobrevolando todo the recorder in helicopter porque se hizo impossible seguir por tierra ante la explosion de alegría popular. Sigamos celebrando en paz y mostrándoles nuestro amor y admiración!
– Gabriela Cerruti (@gabicerru) December 20, 2022
The winning team was therefore forced to fly over the planned route in a helicopter, as it was not possible to continue.
Recall that Argentina defeated France on penalties after extra time in the World Cup final. It was the first title in 36 years for the South American country.