One dead in unrest at Argentina football match

One person died on Thursday, when violent clashes outside Buenos Aires — near a stadium with an ongoing football match between Boca Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima — spilled onto the pitch, authorities said.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas outside the Carmelo Zerillo stadium in La Plata, about 50km south of Argentina's capital as they attempted to stop fans from pushing into the already crowded venue.

The unrest continued inside, where shocked spectators were seen squeezing through the fencing to escape the violence and get onto the field.

"I can confirm that there is one person dead. This person died of cardiac arrest," said Sergio Berni, security minister of Buenos Aires province, where the Argentina league first division match took place.

The game was suspended after nine minutes until further notice "due to lack of [security] guarantees," referee Hernan Mastrangelo said, minutes after the players and technical staff left the pitch for the dressing rooms.

"It affected all of us on the field," he added.

"The air became unbreathable. The situation got out of control and there were no security guarantees."

Authorities at San Martin hospital in La Plata confirmed the death of a 57-year-old man due to cardiac arrest, as he was being transferred from the stadium to the hospital.

Several fans — including children being led or carried by adults — rushed to get out of the stands and onto the pitch, where people were seen sitting or lying down, apparently recovering from tear gas exposure.

• UAE President condoles with Indonesian counterpart on stampede victims