A serious incident, which could have ended in tragedy, shook interior football next weekend and involved a club linked to Pablo Toviggino. At the Comercio Central Unidos stadium in Santiago del Estero, part of a popular stand collapsed while the match against Central Argentino was being played, corresponding to the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Torneo Regional Federal Amateur.
The collapse occurred when the home supporters were jumping and singing, and a portion of the structure suddenly gave way. Dozens of fans fell to the ground, causing moments of panic and confusion that were captured in videos that quickly went viral on social media.
Despite the violence of the episode, no serious injuries were reported. According to local media, those affected suffered blows and minor bruises, and it was not necessary to suspend the match. The match ended in a 2-0 defeat for Comercio, a result that also meant its elimination from the competition and the end of a streak of more than 18 months without losing at home.
The episode once again put the spotlight on the critical condition of the club's facilities, located in the provincial capital. With no construction work carried out for years, the stadium lacks lighting, has a highly deteriorated field, and even uses bus seats as benches for substitutes. The safety conditions had already been the subject of repeated complaints.
It should be clarified that the club from Santiago del Estero was presided over by Toviggino, current treasurer of the AFA and a man of maximum trust for Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, both under investigation in several court cases for alleged corruption. The institution served as a platform for his rise within the Liga Santiagueña de Fútbol and his subsequent arrival at the top of Argentine football.
Las instalaciones del club están en pésimas condiciones
The collapse, which did not leave seriously injured victims by sheer luck, revived criticism of the club's structural neglect and raised a red flag about safety controls in lower-division competitions.
