Football is often called “the beautiful game” because of its power to bring people together.
Perhaps the sport has united people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds more than any other.
Millions of people gather to cheer for their teams, celebrating the thrill of victory or sharing the heartbreak of defeat.
But while football brings joy to so many, it also has a dark side.
Over the years, tragic events have taken place that remind us how quickly celebrations can turn into nightmares.
There have been deadly disasters in stadiums, terrible accidents, and shocking acts of violence that left families mourning and communities broken.
In many cases, these tragedies could have been avoided.
Poor planning, unsafe stadiums, overcrowding, and lack of control turned normal matches into scenes of chaos and devastation.
Fans who simply wanted to watch a game ended up in situations they couldn’t escape.
Many lost their lives in stampedes, fires, or crushes caused by locked exits, poorly managed crowds, or violence.
And today, we’ll look at the worst disasters in football history.
We share the causes, what happened, and what lessons were learned to honor those who were lost.
It’s important to remember these moments—to understand past mistakes, sure—but it’s more important to ensure they never happen again.
1. Peru-Argentina (1964) – 328 Dead
The Estadio Nacional Disaster in Lima, Peru, is the deadliest football tragedy in history.
It all happened on May 24, 1964, during a Tokyo Olympics qualifying match between Peru and Argentina.
Argentina was leading 1-0 with only two minutes left when Peru scored what seemed to be the equalizing goal.
However, the referee, Ángel Eduardo Pazos, disallowed the goal, and this decision outraged the home crowd.
One angry fan jumped onto the pitch to confront the referee but was met with brutal force from the police, who used batons and dogs to beat him.
The harsh reaction enraged the rest of the crowd, and thousands stormed the pitch.
Police fired tear gas into the stands to control the situation, but this only caused widespread panic.
Fans rushed toward the exits, only to find steel shutters locked shut.
People at the front were crushed against the gates, while others suffocated or were trampled as the crowd behind pushed forward.
The tragedy killed 328 people, and most of them died from asphyxiation or internal injuries.
Later, allegations emerged that authorities exaggerated the violence to justify their heavy-handed response.
This disaster remains a grim example of what happens when poor crowd control and extreme police force combine.
2. Hillsborough Disaster (1989) – 97 Dead
The Hillsborough Disaster happened on April 15, 1989, during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England.
Liverpool fans were placed in the Leppings Lane end, an area with limited turnstiles and poor crowd management.
Thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium, which created a huge bottleneck.
To ease the congestion, police opened exit Gate C, allowing around 3,000 fans to flood into the already overcrowded central pens.
The sudden surge of people caused barriers to collapse, and those at the front were crushed against a chain-link fence.
The disaster resulted in 97 deaths—96 on the day and one more victim who died 32 years later from injuries sustained.
And a further 766 people were injured.
However, after investigations, it was found that police negligence was the main cause.
Authorities failed to control the crowd outside the stadium and didn’t respond quickly with medical care once the crash began.
Consequently, the tragedy led to major changes in UK stadium safety laws.
Standing terraces were removed, and all-seater stadiums became mandatory to ensure crowd safety.
3. Napoli-Bologna (1955) – 152 Dead
The Napoli-Bologna Disaster took place in 1955 during a Serie A match in Naples, Italy.
The tragedy began when the referee awarded a controversial penalty to Bologna, which enraged the Napoli fans.
The anger quickly escalated into violent clashes between fans and the police inside the stadium.
Tensions spilled onto the streets outside and turned the situation into a full-scale riot.
Police tried to control the crowd by using force, but that only made things worse.
As panic set in, a deadly stampede broke out.
The disaster claimed 152 lives, including 50 police officers.
And it remains one of the deadliest incidents of violence between football fans and security forces.
4. Accra Sports Stadium Disaster (2001) – 127 Dead
The Accra Sports Stadium Disaster occurred on May 9, 2001, during a fierce rivalry match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Ashanti Kotoko in Ghana.
Accra Hearts won the match 2-1, but the victory angered some visiting fans, who began tearing out chairs and throwing them onto the pitch.
Instead of calming the situation, the police reacted with tear gas, which caused widespread panic in the packed stands.
Fans rushed toward the exits, only to find many gates locked or too narrow to let everyone through.
The stampede that followed left 127 people dead, with most deaths caused by compressive asphyxiation as people were trapped in the crowded passageways.
The tragedy exposed major failures in crowd control and the poor decision-making of the police.
It remains the deadliest football disaster in African history and highlights the importance of proper planning and emergency preparedness at large matches.
5. Guatemala-Costa Rica (1996) – 84 Dead
On October 16, 1996, during a World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Costa Rica at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, tragedy struck.
Officials had oversold tickets, and that caused severe overcrowding inside the stadium.
So, as fans crammed into the stands, people began to panic.
The overcrowding caused a crush, and fans lost their balance on the steep stairs.
This created a human avalanche, where people at the bottom were trampled and suffocated under the weight of the crowd.
In the chaos, 84 people were killed, and another 147 were injured.
Most of the victims died from suffocation or being crushed.
The disaster revealed serious failures in ticket management and stadium safety.
Guatemala was left in shock and mourning as the event became one of the most tragic moments in Central American football history.
6. Bradford City Fire (1985) – 56 Dead
The Bradford City Fire Disaster happened on May 11, 1985, during a match between Bradford City and Lincoln City at Valley Parade Stadium in England.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration since Bradford City had just won the Third Division title, but things turned tragic just before halftime.
The fire started underneath the main wooden stand, where years of rubbish and litter had built up.
A cigarette is believed to have set the debris alight.
Within four minutes, the entire stand was in flames.
The old wooden structure, with a lack of fireproof materials and safety exits, made the fire spread incredibly fast.
So fans had no clear way to escape.
There were no proper evacuation routes or fire extinguishers nearby.
Some people tried to climb over fences, while others broke through barriers in desperation.
Many were burned, suffocated by thick smoke, or crushed in the chaos as they tried to flee.
In the end, 56 people died, and 265 others were injured.
As a result, the disaster forced authorities to change stadium safety rules.
Wooden stands were banned, better fire safety measures were introduced, and stadiums had to provide proper exits to ensure fans could escape in emergencies.
The Bradford City Fire remains one of football’s worst disasters and a worldwide turning point for stadium safety.
7. Luzhniki Disaster (1982) – 66 to 340 Dead
The Luzhniki Stadium Disaster happened on October 20, 1982, during a UEFA Cup match between Spartak Moscow and HFC Haarlem in Moscow, Soviet Union.
The match took place in freezing weather, and the tragedy occurred because only one exit gate at the East Stand was open.
Toward the end of the match, many fans began leaving early to escape the cold.
However, when Spartak Moscow scored a late second goal, some fans tried to rush back to their seats, creating a deadly crush in the narrow stairway.
People began tripping and falling over each other, which caused a stampede where many were crushed and suffocated.
The Soviet government officially reported 66 deaths.
That said, survivors and later investigations claimed the real number could have been as high as 340.
The government’s secrecy at the time meant that the full scale of the disaster was kept hidden for years.
The Luzhniki Disaster remains a grim example of poor stadium management, lack of crowd control, and the dangers of limited exit points.
8. Chapecoense Plane Crash (2016) – 71 Dead
On November 28, 2016, tragedy struck when the plane carrying the Chapecoense football team crashed in the mountains near Medellín, Colombia.
The Brazilian team was on its way to the Copa Sudamericana final against Atlético Nacional, the biggest game in the club’s history.
The crash was caused by negligence and poor flight planning.
The plane, operated by LaMia Airlines, ran out of fuel because the flight route had not allowed for proper refueling.
As the engines failed near Medellín, the plane went down in rugged, mountainous terrain.
Out of 77 people onboard, 71 died, including 19 Chapecoense players, most of the coaching staff, and several journalists.
Only six people survived, including three players: Alan Ruschel, Jakson Follmann, and Neto.
Of course, the tragedy devastated the club and the football community worldwide.
And in a powerful act of solidarity, Atlético Nacional requested that Chapecoense be awarded the Copa Sudamericana title posthumously.
9. Munich Air Disaster (1958) – 23 Dead
The Munich Air Disaster happened on February 6, 1958, when the plane carrying the Manchester United football team crashed while attempting to take off at Munich-Riem Airport in Germany.
The team, known as the “Busby Babes,” was returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
The plane stopped in Munich to refuel, but the runway was covered in snow and slush, which made takeoff difficult.
After two failed attempts, the third try ended in disaster.
The plane could not gain enough speed and crashed through a fence before bursting into flames.
The crash killed 23 people, including 8 Manchester United players, 3 club staff members, and 8 journalists.
Among those lost were talented players like Duncan Edwards, who died two weeks later from his injuries, and other young stars like Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor.
Manager Matt Busby survived the crash and, despite his injuries, later rebuilt the team.
Manchester United’s recovery was inspirational, and the club went on to win the European Cup in 1968.
10. Heysel Stadium Disaster (1985) – 39 Dead
The Heysel Stadium Disaster occurred on May 29, 1985, during the European Cup Final between Juventus and Liverpool at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.
The stadium was in terrible condition, with crumbling walls and weak barriers that could not handle the pressure of a large crowd.
Before the match started, rival fans clashed.
Liverpool supporters charged toward Juventus fans, who were trapped against a weak wall.
Under the force of the crowd, the wall collapsed, and fans fell on top of each other in a desperate attempt to escape.
The disaster left 39 Juventus fans dead and more than 600 injured.
And the shocking event led to heavy consequences.
UEFA banned English clubs from European competitions for five years (Liverpool for six years).
The tragedy also pushed authorities to enforce stricter stadium safety rules and improve measures to control fan behavior.
11. Ellis Park Disaster (2001) – 43 Dead
The Ellis Park Disaster happened on April 11, 2001, during a big match between two of South Africa’s top football teams, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
The rivalry between these teams is fierce, and thousands of fans came to Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg to watch the game.
The stadium’s official capacity was 60,000, but way too many tickets were sold.
Fans without tickets also tried to force their way in.
As the crowd pushed into the stadium, things got out of control.
Inside, the stands were overcrowded, and people could not move.
The pressure from the crowd caused a deadly stampede.
People were crushed, suffocated, or trampled as the chaos continued.
By the end, 43 people died, and dozens more were injured.
Investigations showed that poor crowd control, ticket overselling, and a lack of proper security planning led to the disaster.
It was a painful lesson about the dangers of overcrowding and mismanaging large football events.
12. Kathmandu Stadium Disaster (1988) – 93 Dead
On March 12, 1988, a sudden hailstorm turned deadly during a football match at Dasarath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The stadium was packed with around 30,000 fans without protection from the weather.
When the hailstorm began, fans panicked and rushed toward the exits to escape.
The biggest problem was that the gates were locked.
As more people pushed forward, those in the front were trapped.
The crush caused 93 deaths, with most people being trampled or suffocated.
Not to mention, many others were injured in the chaos.
This disaster showed how dangerous it can be when stadiums don’t have proper safety plans.
The lack of open exits turned what could have been a manageable situation into a tragedy.
13. Port Said Riot (2012) – 74 Dead
The Port Said Riot happened on February 1, 2012, after a football match between home team Al Masry and visiting team Al Ahly in Port Said, Egypt.
The game started with tensions between fans, and things only worsened as the match continued.
After Al Masry won 3-1, thousands of supporters stormed the pitch.
Armed with knives, clubs, and rocks, Al Masry fans attacked Al Ahly supporters.
People tried to escape the violence, but many were trapped inside the stadium because the exits were sealed shut.
Some fans were beaten, others suffocated, and many were trampled in the chaos.
In total, 74 people died, and over 500 were injured.
Many people blamed the police for doing nothing to stop the violence.
This event led to a suspension of the Egyptian Football League and showed the world how deadly fan violence can be when no one steps in to stop it.
14. Yaoundé Olembe Stadium Stampede (2022) – 8 Dead
During the Africa Cup of Nations, a tragic stampede occurred on January 24, 2022, at Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The match between Cameroon and Comoros drew huge crowds, and excitement to see the game led to chaos at the gates.
With thousands of fans trying to get in, security struggled to manage the situation.
People were crushed and trampled as they pushed through narrow, partially closed gates.
The stampede left 8 people dead and at least 38 injured, including children.
Many criticized the poor crowd control and lack of proper gate management, which turned the excitement of a major match into a devastating day.
15. Andres Escobar’s Death (1994)
Andres Escobar was a Colombian football player known for his calm nature and great sportsmanship.
He became a tragic symbol of football violence after the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
During a group-stage match against the United States, Escobar accidentally scored an own goal, giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
Colombia lost 2-1, which eliminated them from the tournament.
So, after the team’s disappointing exit, tensions were, let’s just say, high when they got home.
On July 2, 1994, just days after returning to Medellín, Colombia, Escobar was shot six times outside a bar.
Witnesses said his killers mocked him about his own goal.
Escobar’s death shocked the world and showed how dangerous football fanaticism could become.
He was just 27 years old.
His murder remains a dark and painful moment in football history, a reminder that no game should ever cost a life.
Honoring the Past and Building a Safer Future
Football has given us some of the greatest moments in sports history, but we must never forget the tragedies that took so many lives.
These heartbreaking events remind us how important it is to put safety first, whether it’s in stadium design, crowd control, or emergency planning.
The lessons learned from these disasters have helped make football safer for fans all over the world, but there is still work to be done.
As fans, players, and organizers, we all have a role in ensuring every match is a safe and joyful experience.
By remembering the lives lost and past mistakes, we can continue to honor their memory and build a better future for the sport we love.
Let’s keep football what it should always be—a game that unites, excites, and inspires without putting lives at risk.
If you’re passionate about football safety and want to make a difference, share these stories to raise awareness.
Together, we can make sure that every fan returns home safely after cheering for their team.
Because no game is ever worth a life.
