Five officials suspended after "intolerable" violence at Mexican top-flight game

Local Mexican authorities have suspended five state officials in response to the fan violence at the weekend match between Queretaro and Atlas.

While initial reports of as many as 17 deaths have been dismissed by the authorities, a number of people remain hospitalised after fighting broke out between supporters of the two Liga MX clubs.

The game at Estadio Corregidora was suspended in the wake of the brawl, with a number of players leaving the field and racing down the tunnel as supporters spilled onto the pitch inside Queretaro's stadium.

The Mexican Football Federation issued a statement at the time condemning violence at football as "inadmissible," and now authorities in Queretaro state have suspended several individuals, including at least one police officer understood to have been present at the game.

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Citing Queretaro state authorities, Sports Illustrated reports that 26 individuals were hospitalised, with 19 released on Monday but three remaining in critical condition.

According to The Athletic, who reference comments from Queretaro State interior secretary Guadalupe Murguia, five state officials - including "police and civil defense employees" - have been suspended.

However, earlier reports of deaths inside the stadium have been questioned, with authorities suggesting those named as deceased have been found alive and in hospital.

The match at Queretaro's stadium was suspended with just over an hour played, and The Athletic reports Murguia's hope that the company in charge of security at Estadio Corregidora would lose its contracts.

"Photos of supposedly deceased people circulated. They were identified in the hospital and are in serious health. The seriously ill patients are all stable with continuous and close surveillance," Murguia said, as reported by Marca.

"All the necessary investigations are being carried out to determine the responsibilities of both those who participated in the acts of violence and any official or public servant who had committed an omission.

"We are going to work to hold accountable even public servants. We will not hide any information.

"At this time the prosecutor is working on the identification of possible perpetrators. We are waiting for the conclusions reached by the Prosecutor's Office."

FIFA had issued a statement over the weekend, saying "FIFA is shocked at the tragic incident that took place at La Corregidora stadium in the city of Queretaro during the fixture between Queretaro and Atlas".

"The violence was unacceptable and intolerable," the governing body continued.

"FIFA joins the Mexican Football Association and Concacaf in condemning this barbaric incident and encouraging the local authorities to bring swift justice to those responsible. Our thoughts are with all those who suffered its consequences.

" Once again FIFA would like to stress that violence should have absolutely no place in football and we will continue working with all parties to eradicate it from our game."