The Argentinian FA has confirmed that the national team's World Cup-winning bus tour in Buenos Aires has been abandoned due to security concerns.
Lionel Scaloni's triumphant squad touched down in the Argentine capital on Tuesday after winning the 2022 World Cup on Sunday, beating France 4-2 on penalties.
The Argentine government declared their homecoming as a national holiday and between four and five million people are estimated to have poured onto the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate their first world title since 1986.
After travelling from Qatar to the Argentina Football Association (AFA) training complex, the national team made a 20-mile trip to the capital to begin their eight-hour parade on an open-top bus at 11:45pm local time.
The parade was scheduled to finish at the Obelisk monument, one of the most famous landmarks in Buenos Aires, but the tour was cut short due to security concerns caused by the sheer volume of supporters lining the streets.
Buenos Aires, Argentina has totally collapsed. The victory parade, if you can even call it that, has been cut short.
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) December 20, 2022
This is the one of the few videos I've received that's the safe to upload to social media. People were jumping into the bus. Just INSANE 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/OKHfDy7zOB
A video from Argentine journalist Nico Cantor shows a fan jumping onto the player's tour bus as it drove under a bridge, while a second supporter attempted to follow him but missed the bus and fell backwards into the crowd below.
One man has also been seen taken away on a stretcher with head injuries, although it is currently remains unknown as to whether he was the fan who missed the bus as he fell from the bridge.
Apparently (cannot confirm or deny) this is the dude that fell trying to hop into the bus.
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) December 20, 2022
He's on a stretcher...SINGING WITH THE CROWD as he's being taken to the hospital 😳
Argentines – don't try to understand them pic.twitter.com/PLacF3MpFS
Other supporters have been seen climbing structures such as traffic lights, lamp posts, road signs and bus shelters, with several struggling to get down safely.
The Argentina team were eventually taken off the tour bus and transferred to helicopters to wave down at their jubilant supporters.
A statement from the AFA read: "The players of the Argentine soccer team ended the festivities by flying over in a helicopter over the crowd of fans who gathered in the city.
"They made that decision after verifying that they could not continue advancing by bus in the middle of the crowd."
© Reuters
AFA president Claudio Tapia added: "They don't let us get to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security agencies that escorted us don't allow us to move forward.
"A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players. A shame."
Presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti wrote on Twitter: "The world champions are flying over the entire route in helicopters because it became impossible to continue on land due to the explosion of popular joy.
"Let's continue to celebrate in peace and show them our love and admiration!"
Los jugadores en el helicóptero! pic.twitter.com/LvzyLMZ0Ag
— Esteban Edul (@estebanedul) December 20, 2022
A video of midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who was named Young Player of the Tournament, has since emerged of the 21-year-old inside a helicopter with teammates looking down onto the capital.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi was also celebrating with the national team squad, and the legendary forward – who won the Golden Ball award as the tournament's best player – has arguably cemented his status as the greatest player of all time after finally getting his hands on the World Cup for the first time.
Oliver Thomas
