Buenos Aires Bans Stadium Confetti After Fire
- City authorities banned throwing confetti in stadiums after a fire caused panic at the River vs Boca Superclásico. - The ban was declared unanimously by CABA's security committee and applies immediately across city stadiums. - Officials said images of the smoke at River Plate's Monumental stadium prompted the preventive measure, aiming to avoid future fires. (lanacion.com.ar)
Buenos Aires has banned fans from throwing paper confetti in city stadiums after a fire broke out during River Plate’s Superclásico against Boca Juniors. (lanacion.com.ar) The City of Buenos Aires security committee approved the measure unanimously on April 22, 2026, and said it takes effect immediately in every stadium in the district. The ban covers confetti in stands, seating sections and other spectator areas. (lanacion.com.ar) Officials said the decision followed the April 19 River-Boca match at the Más Monumental, where a small fire started in a seating section and was quickly put out. Firefighters intervened after smoke spread and spectators nearby moved away from the area. (lanacion.com.ar) (apnews.com) In its notice to clubs, the committee said River had approved contingency protocols and the resources to carry them out, but the incident still showed the material’s ignition risk in a packed venue. The letter said future authorizations will not be granted for celebrations that include cut paper. (lanacion.com.ar) (tn.com.ar) The move hits one of Argentine football’s most familiar pre-match rituals, where home fans shower the field with chopped paper as teams enter. Authorities framed the ban as a public-safety measure rather than a club-specific punishment. (apnews.com) (lanacion.com.ar) The committee includes the Buenos Aires City Police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the city’s Government Control Agency, according to the official communication reported by local media. Clubs were notified by letter in the hours after the decision. (lanacion.com.ar) The match that triggered the ban was played before about 85,000 spectators, and Boca won 1-0 with a penalty from Leandro Paredes. The smoke from the stands outlasted the welcome display that was meant to set the tone for one of football’s biggest rivalries. (tn.com.ar) (batimes.com.ar)
