Chaos in Buenos Aires – Argentine World Cup heroes have to be “evacuated” by helicopter – Sport

The world champions are celebrated by millions of fans – the parade has to be improvised.

State of emergency in Buenos Aires: According to the police, around five million fans celebrated the world champions in the Argentine capital. The government declared a public holiday on Tuesday – a little later there was great chaos.

The bus is barely moving

The open bus with the inscription “Campeones Del Mundo” only rolled at walking pace – there were turbulent scenes. Video sequences could be seen on social media showing fans trying to jump or climb onto the bus from bridges. The safety of all participants was apparently not guaranteed.

Superstar Lionel Messi’s team had to interrupt their planned parade through the Argentine capital and were instead flown over the celebrating crowds in a helicopter. Government spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti announced via Twitter that the players will continue their parade by helicopter. “Let’s continue to celebrate in peace and show them our love and admiration!” Cerruti wrote.

Originally, the Argentines wanted to drive the 30-kilometer route from the association’s premises to the center of the Argentine capital. Countless fans had gathered at the obelisk, the capital’s 68-metre-high pillar landmark, in anticipation of a huge party since the morning. In the best weather, they whiled away the wait for their heroes with singing, dancing and lighting fireworks.

World champions arrive home with a long delay

The nation’s favorites had landed in their homeland with a long delay at around 2:30 a.m. local time (6:30 a.m. CET), almost two days after winning the World Cup. Messi was the first player to get off the plane and presented the World Cup to the fans, after which coach Lionel Scaloni left the plane. The plane was adorned with a portrait of Messi and the slogan “one team, one country, one dream”.

The team ran across a red carpet to an open, white double-decker bus. First it was five kilometers over to the association site in Ezeiza. According to official figures, a good million fans stormed the streets of Greater Buenos Aires on Sunday after the final penalty in the triumph over France.