Mexican football league suspends Queretaro matches after brawl injures 26 people

MEXICO CITY: Mexico's football league on Sunday (Mar 6) said it would suspend upcoming matches at a stadium in the central city of Queretaro where violent clashes left two dozen people injured and restrict visiting fans from attending away games.

The brutal attacks among spectators during the Queretaro-Atlas match on Saturday sent 26 people, mostly men, to hospital with three people in critical condition.

Mexico's football league also said it would pursue sanctions, without detailing who might be held responsible or what the sanctions might include.

"We have an immediate challenge to generate a clear and understandable response and effective punishment," said Mikel Arriola, president of Mexico's Liga MX league, at a news conference.

"We are not going to have any soccer activity here until the case is resolved," he added, referring to Queretaro's Corregidora stadium.

Arriola said owners in the league would meet on Tuesday to discuss further disciplinary measures, including for rowdy fan groups known locally as "barras," while government officials pursue investigations.

Liga MX suspended Saturday's match after 62 minutes with visitors Atlas leading 1-0, as spectators stormed the pitch. Social media images showed people being brutally beaten, kicked and dragged in seating areas and hallways of the stadium.

Speaking outside a Queretaro hospital on Saturday night, game attendee Hector Ramirez said some attackers wielded belts and knives.

"They hit me with a chair, and I have the bump right here," he said, pointing to his head. "Where do you get a chair in a stadium?"

The governor of Queretaro state, Mauricio Kuri, said some probes had been opened for attempted murder.

"Even though there are no deaths, we can't say this isn't a