A controversial refereeing decision has sparked violence and a crush at a football match in Guinea, killing 56 people, authorities say.
The background: The stampede broke out on Sunday afternoon at the stadium in the city of Nzerekore during the final of a local tournament between the Labe and Nzerekore teams in honour of Guinea's military leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup.
Among the victims are several children, according to local media and a coalition of political parties.
A witness, Amara Conde, who had attended the match, said a disputed red card in the 82nd minute of the match kicked off the violence.
The key quote: "The stone throwing started and the police joined in, firing tear gas. In the rush and scramble that followed, I saw people fall to the ground, girls and children trampled underfoot. It was horrible." — Amara Conde.
What else to know: The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy opposition coalition said the tournament was organised to drum up support for the "illegal and inappropriate" political ambitions of the military leader.
There was no immediate response from the military junta to that accusation.
Doumbouya's junta proposed a two-year transition to elections from 2022 after negotiating with West Africa's political and economic bloc, but it has shown little sign of moving to organise a vote, stoking public frustration and occasional deadly protests.
What happens next: Authorities are conducting an investigation to establish those responsible for the stampede on Sunday, communications minister Fana Soumah said in a statement read on national television.
