Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall
Taarek Refaat
A tragic accident overshadowed MC Algiers' (Mouloudia Club d'Alger) celebration of its ninth Algerian Ligue 1 title on Saturday, after a fan died and 11 others were injured in a fall from the upper stands of the July 5 Stadium.
MC Algiers secured its second consecutive league title with a goalless draw against NC Magra on the final day of the season. However, the joy quickly turned into sorrow when several supporters fell from the southern upper stands shortly after the final whistle and before the championship trophy ceremony could begin.
أمسية حزينة في ليلة تتويج مولودية الجزائر باللقب..حادث مأساوي بسقوط بعض جماهير الفريق من أعلى المدرجات أدى لوفاة مناصر رحمة الله عليه والعديد من المصابين..نصيحتي لكم حافظوا على انفسكم وشعجوا وإستمتعوا في إطار المسموح دون المجازفة بحياتكم..وعلى المسؤولين إخضاع الملاعب لصيانة دورية…
pic.twitter.com/CclBHNgSAB
— abd ennacer el bar/عبد الناصر البار (@nasronasro1988)
June 21, 2025
The Algerian Civil Protection agency released a statement confirming the incident:
'One death has been recorded and 11 others sustained injuries. Emergency medical teams provided on-site assistance and transported the injured to hospital for further care.'
The statement also noted that a mobile medical unit was set up inside the stadium and that ten ambulances were dispatched from the National Training and Intervention Unit.
Ceremony Postponed, Mourning Nationwide
In response to the incident, the title ceremony was postponed as emergency responders secured the area. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune publicly mourned the deceased fan, expressing his condolences to the family and the MC Algiers community via social media.
The deceased has not yet been officially identified, and an investigation is reportedly underway to determine the cause of the fall. Witnesses at the scene said the crowd had surged forward in celebration, leading to a partial collapse or slip near the barrier of the upper tier.
A Night of Mixed Emotions
For MC Algiers, the title marks a historic achievement — the club's ninth national league championship and a rare back-to-back win — but the emotional high has been deeply muted by the tragedy.
League officials, players, and fans have expressed their sorrow, calling for improved safety measures in stadiums and crowd management during major events.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) is expected to issue a statement and may open a review of stadium protocols for large-scale fixtures.
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