VIDEO: El Clasico injures nine people in Kurdistan Region capital

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Following the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid on Sunday, risky celebrations of the Barcelona victory in the Kurdistan Region resulted in some casualties.

El Clasico is one of the most watched football matches not only in the Kurdistan Region but almost everywhere around the world.

On Sunday night, Barcelona recorded a spectacular 3-2 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium following a last-minute goal from Lionel Messi. The win put Barcelona at the top of the La Liga standings.

People in Erbil widely celebrated the victory by driving their cars in different neighborhoods and chanting their favorite Barcelona and Messi slogans. Footage published on social media showed cars drifting in Eskan Street, where an estimate 10,000 people were present.  A car ultimately drove through the crowd and injured several people.

Gun shots to the sky were heard in different parts of Erbil, a traditional means of expressing joy and excitement for some.

“As a result of El Clasico match, nine people were injured in Erbil,” the General Director of Erbil Health Saman Barzinji told Kurdistan24 on Monday.

“Four of them were wounded by gunshot while the rest sustained injuries in car accidents and crashes while celebrating the outcome of the match,” Barzinji added.

A source from the Erbil police, who wished to remain anonymous, stated there had been no arrests for the reckless shots fired into the night’s sky. “People are shooting from their houses. It is not easy to locate and arrest them.”

People on social media networks expressed their anger toward the gun shots, claiming it left them sleepless for the night.

The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona fans is often very intense, to the extent that it has lead to violence on multiple occasions.

Editing by G. H. Renaud