LIMA — 1964 · Major Tragedy

The Estadio Nacional Disaster

ClosedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On 24 May 1964, in the closing minutes of an Olympic qualifier between Peru and Argentina at Lima's Estadio Nacional, the referee disallowed a Peruvian equaliser. When protesting fans invaded the pitch, police fired tear gas into the north stand. The panicking crowd rushed for the exits and was crushed against the closed steel shutters of the tunnels leading down to the street. The official toll was 328 dead and about 500 injured, though early reports gave higher figures. Most deaths occurred in the stairwells rather than inside the ground. The government declared martial law and the stadium's capacity was cut. It is regarded as the deadliest stadium disaster in football history and was never thoroughly investigated.

Date: 1964
Place: Lima, Peru, Lima, PE
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Closed
Coordinates: -12.0673, -77.0337 ↗

Timeline of Events

24 May 1964The referee disallowed Peru's goal against Argentina; fans invaded the pitch.
24 May 1964Police fired tear gas; 328 people died in a crush at the closed exits.

May 1964The government declared martial law; the event was never thoroughly investigated.
1964Stadium capacity was cut from 53,000 to 42,000.

Sources

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