A tragic incident occurred during the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain in Munich on Sunday, as a fan died after falling from the stands, UEFA has confirmed to AFP’s German subsidiary, SID.
The incident happened during the first half of extra time, when the individual fell from the middle tier of the stadium down into the press area located below. Emergency responders, including paramedics and police, quickly arrived at the scene to assist.
UEFA later released a statement describing the incident as a “medical emergency,” confirming that a spectator had “sadly” passed away during the match.
Following Portugal’s 5-3 victory on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regular time, both teams expressed their condolences.
At the post-match press conference, Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, offered his sympathies: “I want to show my deepest condolences because a fan has died. It reminds us of what is important in life.”
The Portuguese side also acknowledged the tragedy. A team representative remarked that the loss “casts a shadow on our victory today,” while head coach Roberto Martinez called it “extremely sad news.”
Authorities estimate that the fall was from a height of about eight metres. However, the exact cause or circumstances of the fall remain unclear.
Portugal clinch second UEFA Nations League title
New Daily Prime reported that Portugal clinched their second UEFA Nations League title on Sunday night in Munich after a dramatic 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Spain, following a 2-2 draw in regular and extra time.
Rúben Neves scored the decisive penalty, sealing the win after Spain’s Álvaro Morata saw his effort saved by Diogo Costa. It was a historic moment, marking just Portugal’s second competitive win over their Iberian rivals.
This triumph makes Portugal the first country to win the Nations League twice since the competition’s inception in 2018. It also adds a third major trophy to their collection, following the Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League title.
