EXCLUSIVE: Warning to England fans travelling to Mexico for the World Cup Round of 16 clash, after a British couple’s ‘terrifying experience’ earlier in tournament
Two England fans, who have already been to the World Cup in Mexico City, described their “terrifying experience”.
Jo Lewis and partner Gary Taylor said it was a horrendous few hours in and around an official FanFest. They warned Three Lions supporters heading to England’s round of 16 game to be very careful.
Jo feared for her life. And Gary, who has attended hundreds of Spurs and England matches said: “Mexico City was the worst – 100 percent the worst experience of all the matches I’ve ever been.”
They were speaking after it was revealed three Mexicans were suffocated and died during wild celebrations after their win over Ecuador. More than one million fans took to the streets of the capital following the historic win, leading to severe crushing. Jo and Gary visited Mexico City for the opening game last month – before heading to Dallas to support England.
They described chaotic scenes in the Fanfest. The couple, from Harold Wood, Essex said they wanted all England fans travelling down to Mexico for Sunday’s game to be aware of the issues.
They said policing, security and organisation were severely lacking compared with the United States.
Jo, 44, who works in logistics for an oil and gas company, said: “People with children, with babies were all getting crushed. It was terrible. No-one cared. People getting crushed everywhere.
“It took us four hours to get into the fanzone. I was swept in on a surge of grown adults into a small doorway area – my feet weren’t even on the floor – and I couldn’t see Gary, and I started to panic.
“We weren’t together and that was petrifying for me. This was the worst experience of my life. My hands were trembling for at least an hour afterwards.”
Gary, 64, an estate agent, said: “We went together to Mexico to see the Azteca stadium and to experience the Mexican fans. We arrived in the main square, and there was so many people. It was chaotic.
“There must have been a two or three mile queue just to get to the fanzone. There was just one entrance which was, perhaps, the size of two double garage doors.
“It was frightening. Literally 10,000 people squeezing though that gap. It was madness absolute madness.”
Gary and Jo are going to every England game and have tickets for the final if England make it to the match in New York on July 19.
They will be joined in Mexico by an estimated 5,000 Three Lions supporters for a match that will be played in a frenzied passionate atmosphere. It kicks off at 1am on Monday morning UK time – 6pm local time.
England will fly in two days before the match. Mexico fans kept previous opponents Ecuador awake by letting off fireworks outside their hotel.
