Mexico's top-division football league postponed all matches scheduled for Sunday after a heated argument between fans during the previous day's match between hosts Querétaro and Atlas, the defending league champions from Guadalajara.
"We regret and condemn these incidents, which are contrary to the spirit of our football," the Mexican Soccer Federation said in a statement. The suspension affected three matches scheduled for Sunday.
Saturday's match was postponed in the 62nd minute after several fights in the stands. Security personnel opened the gates of the grounds so that fans, including women and children, could escape from the stands.
Queretaro state officials said 23 were hospitalized. Ten are in critical condition and three others are in critical condition and have sustained serious injuries.
Videos posted on social media may have three people who were knocked unconscious or badly beaten to the ground, who were kicked repeatedly.
FIFA, the international football governing body, said in a statement that it was "shocked by the tragic incident that occurred at the La Corregidora stadium in the city of Queretaro during the fixture between Queretaro and Atlas." It called the violence "unacceptable and intolerable". ,
“FIFA joins the Mexican Football Association and CONCACAF (North American Football Federation) to condemn this barbaric incident and encourage local authorities to bring speedy justice to those responsible. Our thoughts are with all those who have suffered because of this. The consequences have been suffered."
Querétaro Governor Mauricio Curi said on Sunday: "What happened yesterday fills me with pain, shame and great anger. I have no words to condemn the violence, abuse and senselessness of what happened yesterday."
After the scuffle began, players visiting Atlas quickly ran to the locker room, as did some from Queretaro. Other Queretaro players, including Uruguayan goalkeeper Washington Aguere, stayed near the bench trying to placate the fans.
After several minutes some fights went into the field where he continued to punch and kick. Some were equipped with chairs and metal bars.
A fan can be seen pulling a knife to cut a circular net. Others destroyed a side bench and some fought in the field in the tunnel.
The Sunday was titled "The Darkest Day for Mexican Soccer" in the Mexican newspaper El Universal.
In fact, violence between gangs of rival football fans is common in Mexico's stadiums.
Guadalajara is the capital of the state of Jalisco, and Atlas has also recently had issues of violence among its fans. Last year, "Classic" saw a brawl in the stands with crosstown rival Chivas.
"Unfortunately, what is happening in Queretaro ... is happening in my country," said former Mexican national team captain Rafael Marquez, who started his career with Atlas and later became its coach.
Kuri condemned the violence and said that the owners of the club Queretaro would have to answer for what happened. He also promised to investigate whether the authorities or anyone else had given the liberty to suppress the violence.
"I have directed that the law be implemented with all its consequences," he said. Both the teams issued statements condemning the violence.
MX League president Mikel Arriola said it will likely adopt biometric or facial recognition systems in stadiums to identify firefighters.
"We have to implement digital security measures to identify people starting with Barra," Arriola said, referring to organized fan clubs.
Arriola said it would propose at Tuesday's meeting of club owners that those clubs be banned from their teams' matches.
State officials said some police were on duty at the stadium, but this was largely done by private security officials. Video footage of the match suggested that the security force was composed largely of women officers, who tried unsuccessfully to break up the fight.
"If the company (soccer team) doesn't have enough officers or they lack training, we're going to work to hold them accountable," said state Interior Secretary Guadalupe Murgia.
Large squads of police are assigned to guard some football matches in Mexico.
“Safety at the stadium is a personal responsibility, but despite this, I agree that law enforcement was inadequate and did not act with sufficient speed,” said Gov.