Fighting Match at Mexican Soccer Game
BY GIL FRIED
A brawl erupted in the stands at Estadio Corregidora in Queretaro in a game between Queretaro and Atlas. The brawl spilled onto the field and caused the suspension of the March 5 match. According to some reports and fans, barriers meant to separate the supporter groups were breached as the fighting began in the stands. This resulted in some fans invading the field to escape the violence. However, the violence followed them, and the Queretaro-Atlas match was eventually suspended in the 63rd minute.
There is an unfortunately rich history of incidents between the Queretaro and Atlas supporter groups with past clashes in 2007, 2010, and 2013. Both teams’ fans are considered some of the most violent in Mexico. While it will take a while to sort out what actually happened and the actual death/casualty count (numbers are all over the place depending on who is asked), what is known is that Atlas fans feel they were screened while Queretaro fans were not screened.
Unfortunately, videos shared on social media showed security personnel who were not actively responding to the chaos unfolding around them. One issue will be how security responded and if they were prepared. After the match, the Queretaro public safety secretary Miguel Angel Contreras said that “the private security firm did not take all the personnel that it needed to take to cover the event.”
State officials admitted that the public police presence at the stadium was not sufficient, but that stadium security is the sole responsibility of the private sector (i.e. the club). Queretaro club president Gabriel Solares said in a press conference that there were 600 security personnel at the game. There also was some police presence. Solares went on to say, “They were overcome not because of the number of security staff, but because of the [violent] actions.” That is an excuse. The violent history between the team supporters is well known. Video footage shows many female security personnel who were ineffective at trying to stop fights.
It is not just proper deployment that counts. Security personnel need to do their job. Yes, security can be overwhelmed, but they need to try to have a showing of force such as to fan across an area with as many personnel as possible. As one Atlas fan stated, “It was a massacre. It was planned. It was premeditated. It was obvious that they did what they wanted to do with us. They [security] opened the door for them. When we ran out, we asked the police for protection and they didn't support us in any moment. They were off to the side and they were observing us.”
As an immediate response, five officials were suspended (including three responsible for planning and running the game) and the security company’s contract was cancelled. Mikel Arriola, president of the MX League, said it would likely adopt biometric or facial recognition systems at stadiums to identify troublemakers. In an aspirational statement, Arriola stated, “We have to implement digital security measures to identify those who attend, starting with the barras.” Barras refers to the supporter fan clubs who are often implicated in violence.
Sports Facilities and the Law (SFL), is a bi-monthly publication produced by Hackney Publications and edited by Prof. Gil Fried (University of West Florida) and written by Prof. Fried and other experts in the sport law/venue field. SFL (https://sportsfacilitieslaw.com/), which is available on a complimentary basis to those in the industry, includes articles about court decisions, risk management strategies, and current events associated with venue-related issues to its approximately 900 subscribers. The publication has been around for over seven years and has an advisory board comprised of some of the biggest names in venue management, venue security/safety, sport insurance, and sport law space. Subscribers range from GMs, venue executives, collegiate athletic directors, attorneys, crowd management executives, and numerous others in our space.
The NCS⁴ at The University of Southern Mississippi recently completed its 2022 Forum series, reaching more than 250 sports safety and security stakeholders.
The industry-specific forums were held in a one-day live virtual format between January and March 2022, attracting professionals working with marathon and endurance events, intercollegiate athletics, professional sports and entertainment venues, and interscholastic athletics and after-school activities. Forum participants engaged with industry experts on crowd management, cybersecurity, and de-escalation strategies.
Recordings from the general sessions of each forum are available to NCS⁴ Connect members only and are posted on the NCS⁴ Connect membership website. If you would like to join NCS⁴ Connect, please click the link below for more information.
Game-Changers Unite!
Join Colleagues and Friends in Orlando This Summer
The NCS⁴ invites you to attend the 13th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition. The conference will be held on June 28-30 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Orlando in conjunction with Title Sponsor inOrbit. The 2022 conference theme is Game-Changers: Lead, Discover, Innovate.
The conference will offer dynamic programming, solution provider engagement, and opportunities to network with fellow game-changers in our industry. Experienced professionals will share ideas, tools, and proven strategies to help you stay informed of industry advancements.
“The NCS⁴ team looks forward to welcoming all safety and security game-changers to the 13th annual conference,” said Dr. Stacey A. Hall, NCS⁴ Executive Director and Professor of Sport Management. “This year’s conference will focus on emerging issues and offer educational programming and technology solutions for leaders to stay abreast of industry changes. Attending our conference is an excellent opportunity to meet and learn from the best in the business.”
“We believe it’s important to listen to our industry stakeholders, and leaning on them to guide conference programming is no exception,” said Lauren Cranford, NCS⁴ Director of Operations. “With that said, we are excited to deliver relevant content on hot topics with applications they can take home and put in place.”
In addition to keynote speakers, an awards luncheon, interactive panel discussions, and breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to explore emerging technologies and network with peers during the conference. A social reception planned for the event’s first evening allows practitioners, industry partners, and exhibitors to gather and network with friends and colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere.
“The conference helps cross-discipline practitioners hear about the experiences, trials, and challenges others have already worked through. They can understand the why behind the process and interact with those involved,” said Jeff Stonebreaker, VP Safety and Security, MLS Soccer. “It is also important to stay current with trends and challenges in the industry. Moreover, success and growth are about relationships and helping each other.”
To unwind after the conference, attendees can relax and play at one of the nation’s premier golf, meeting and leisure destinations. The Four Diamond resort is surrounded by 36 holes of championship golf and 15 acres of recreation.
In addition to world-class golf, the resort offers a signature full-service spa, sparkling pools, and a lazy river, making it the perfect getaway hotel for adults and children alike. With easy access to area attractions like Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, enjoy all that Orlando has to offer.
Early-bird registration is available through April 15 with fees of $550 for NCS⁴ Connect members and $600 for non-members. Prices will increase by $50 after April 15.
The conference agenda and breakout sessions will be announced soon. Click the button below to register or for more information.
THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS!
NCS⁴ is also accepting exhibitors and sponsors. Don't delay — spaces are filling up quickly with the Exhibit Hall already over half full and a few sponsorships remaining. Visit the website to register as an exhibitor, or contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu to request a sponsor packet.
Now Accepting Golden Eagle Award applications
Only registered exhibitors and sponsors of the 2022 Conference are eligible to apply.
Applicants from leading systems integration, architecture, design, engineering, and consulting firms are invited to submit case studies from successful projects, which had safety and security at the forefront of planning and execution.
The Golden Eagle Award which recognizes excellence in system integration, architecture, engineering and/or construction (A/E/C) specifically related to the safety and security of spectators, property, and infrastructure of spectator event facilities. The Golden Eagle Award considers critical design and functionality elements that enable and promote the safety and security of all stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner.
A panel of judges reviews all applications to determine the most compelling projects. Selected entries have the opportunity to submit case studies during the annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference on June 28-30, 2022. The winning submission will be selected as the 2022 Golden Eagle Award recipient at the awards luncheon, which also takes place during the National Conference.
For more information or to apply for the Golden Eagle Award, visit ncs4.usm.edu/conference. If you have any questions about the award or application process, please contact Sara Priebe, at 601-266-6858 or sara.priebe@usm.edu.
Are you ready to take your career to the next level? NCS⁴ offers applicants the opportunity to sit for the CSSP exam at the conference with no testing fee!
The CSSP examination will be offered to eligible candidates during the 13th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference & Exhibition. To be considered eligible to take the exam, individuals must complete and submit their CSSP Application, including the application fee, by April 29, 2022, to allow enough time for the NCS⁴ Certification Department to collect and process all supporting documentation. Approved candidates will receive a notification of test eligibility before arriving at the conference. Find out more about CSSP and how to register for the exam now.
DHS-FEMA Course Recertification Conducted This Week
The pilot for the recertification of the MGT-412: Sport and Special Event Evacuations and Protective Actions course was conducted this week at Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. Over 30 participants from public safety, venue management, and athletic and event operations provided participant feedback that will assist NCS⁴ in validating the course content. This ensures the curriculum successfully addresses industry gaps before making it available to practitioners later this year. Thank you to the Auburn University community for hosting the session.
This course represents a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (USM/NCS⁴) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), a member of the Texas A&M University System.
NCS⁴ Staffer, Daniel Ward, Leads Training Session at AVSS
Last week the NCS⁴ participated in the International Association of Venue Managers’ (IAVM) Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS) in Las Vegas, NV. Daniel Ward, NCS⁴ Director of Training and Exercise, served as a guest faculty member and led a training session addressing crisis communications. The NCS⁴ would like to thank IAVM and all of the professionals and participants who made the event a success.
NCS⁴ Staffer, Dr. Joslyn Zale, Co-Authors Presentation
Dr. Joslyn Zale, NCS⁴ Senior Research Associate and CSSP Manager, co-authored Modeling Vulnerability on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Beyond, a presentation on a social vulnerability index that she helped develop with colleagues. The presentation was delivered at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, held Feb. 25-Mar. 2, 2022.
The NCS⁴ is Hiring!
Two positions are currently available: Training Manager and Instructional Design Specialist.
The Training Manager will be part of a dynamic team of individuals responsible for the day-to-day supervision of instructional and support staff, including evaluations, scheduling, and administrative oversight for the DHS/FEMA sport safety and security training program. For more information or to apply, click the link below.
The Instructional Design Specialist will be responsible for the training development process to meet changing course needs and objectives for NCS4 training programs and work collaboratively with subject matter experts and design team members to meet training needs, prepare learning objectives, and define and sequence course content. For more information or to apply, click the link below.
S2 University Invites You to Attend a Two-Day Stadium/Venue Operator Certification
Now Scheduling Select DHS/FEMA-Funded Training Courses
The NCS⁴ is currently offering four safety and security courses in face-to-face format. Each course is designed to be interactive and allow individuals to become more confident in their ability to identify, prevent, and manage incidents. The key principles that individuals will learn range from risk management, evacuation messaging, threat prioritization, and communication. Each class is being presented in a face-to-face format that requires 8 hours each day for two consecutive days.
You can learn more about each of these courses by visiting the NCS⁴ website or by clicking on one of the following courses below:
- AWR-167: Sport Event Risk Management
- MGT-412: Sport Venue Evacuation and Protective Actions
- MGT-466: Sport and Special Event Enhanced Risk Management and Assessment
- MGT-467: Sport and Special Event Public Information and Emergency Notification
These courses represent a cooperative effort between The University of Southern Mississippi’s National Center for Spectator Sports Security and Safety (USM/NCS⁴) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), a member of The Texas A&M University System.
If you are interested in attending or hosting a training course, please email us at NCS4train@usm.edu.
Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course Offered Online
NCS⁴ and GKStill International have partnered to jointly offer the Fundamentals of Crowd Safety online E-Learning course to address capability gaps in crowd behavior and sciences. Professor Dr. G. K. Still, Professor of Crowd Science at Manchester University, developed this certified, accredited course. The course offers an 8-hour online interactive experience designed to teach the essential elements of crowd safety and crowd risk analysis. The course is especially valuable to event organizers, as it ensures that those who complete it are compliant with the NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code — specifically, the areas of section 12 of the code that require a venue to provide a crowd manager trained in crowd management techniques for occupancies exceeding 1000.
Florida Trooper stops drunk driver from hitting runners at Skyway 10K, FHP says
WFLA News Channel 8 – Link to news story and Trooper dash cam; (FHP dash video at 1 min mark)
Security concerns flagged after Mexican match suspended by crowd riots
In what many are calling one of the darkest days in the history of Mexican professional football, a brawl that erupted in the stands between Queretaro and Atlas supporters spilled onto the field and caused the suspension of a March 5 match in the Mexican top flight. Read more
Online Sports Betting’s N.Y. Debut: $2.4 Billion in Wagers in 5 Weeks
Since the state legalized online gambling in January, bets have poured in, bringing revenue to tax coffers but worrying addiction specialists. More than $2 billion in wagers. Nearly $80 million in tax revenue. And a quarter of the entire nation’s mobile-sports wagers on the Super Bowl. Read more
Fight Involving Players, Fans Mars NEC Championship Game
A college basketball season that has seen ugly scenes in recent weeks got another dose of unsportsmanlike conduct Tuesday, as a fight broke out in the stands during the Northeastern Conference tournament championship game. Read more
Two Jailed After Punching Teen at Youth Hockey Game
A Wisconsin youth hockey game descended into violence Saturday after a fight broke out in the stands, landing at least two adults in jail. McFarland police officers were called to the McFarland Community Ice Arena around 9:44 p.m. after a fight involving parents and fans was reported, according to Channel3000.com. Read more
15-Year-Old Killed in Drive-By Shooting Outside East High School
Six teens are facing murder charges in connection with the drive-by shooting that killed one teen and injured two others. One teen was killed and two others were injured in a drive-by shooting outside East High School Monday afternoon. Read more