An open-air bus parade for Argentina’s World Cup heroes had to be canceled midway to protect the safety of the millions of fans who poured into the streets of Buenos Aires.
Instead, Argentina captain Lionel Messi and his teammates boarded helicopters for a flyover of the capital in what the government described as an aerial parade.
“The world champions fly over the entire route with helicopters because it was impossible to continue on land due to the explosion of people’s happiness,” Gabriela Cerutti, a spokeswoman for President Alberto Fernandez, wrote on social media.
The players were unable to reach the central Obelisk monument in Buenos Aires as planned due to the size of the crowd, estimated at four million by local media, citing police sources.
The bus traveled slowly for more than four hours before the parade was called off.
Argentina’s president declared a national holiday on Tuesday for the country to celebrate its World Cup victory.
Football journalist Tim Vickery told Sky News that “millions” had lined the streets of the capital and he “thought it could go catastrophically wrong” before the parade was called off.
“As the team bus went under bridges, there were people from those bridges trying to jump on the bus.
“The bus just couldn’t move forward, there were too many people, so eventually they had to make the decision to abandon the bus route,” Vickery said.
He added: “It seems like it was the safest option because it really seemed like too much.”
Image: A helicopter carrying national team players flies over the Obelisk monument in Buenos Aires
Celebrating fans took over motorways, boulevards and access roads to the capital as temperatures soared to 30C.
Thousands have set up camp since early Tuesday morning at the Obelisk, which is a traditional venue for celebrations.
After flying over key points in Buenos Aires where fans had gathered, the helicopters carrying the players returned to the headquarters of the Argentine Football Association (FA) outside the capital.
Association president Claudio Tapia blamed law enforcement for the change in plans.
“We are not being allowed to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security services that escorted us are not allowing us to move forward,” he said.
“Thousands of apologies on behalf of all championship players. Shame.”
Image: Photo: AP
Messi and the rest of the players waved to the crowds from the bus as they carried the World Cup trophy aloft after securing Argentina’s third World Cup and the country’s first since 1986 when football icon Diego Maradona lifted the trophy.
“It’s crazy, it’s indescribable,” Brian Andreasi, 23, said as he walked downtown wearing the team’s jersey. – Speechless.
“There is a huge union between all Argentinians – unity, happiness. It’s like you can breathe a different air, there’s a different energy in the air,” said Victoria Roldan. “My body and heart are about to burst.”
Read more: Argentina squad returns home to ecstatic welcome In pictures: Argentina celebrate as Messi joins Maradona in bringing World Cup home
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1:32 “Absolute excitement” in Buenos Aires
The team had arrived in Argentina in the early hours of Tuesday at Ezeiza airport, where, despite it being around 3am (6am GMT), thousands were waiting with banners, flags and torches to welcome home their heroes.
By noon, millions had already gathered in downtown Buenos Aires, with major roads closed for the parade.
People raised flags of Messi and the late icon Maradona, played instruments or climbed lampposts or bus stops.
Argentina’s capital is in party mode after a dramatic victory over France in Sunday’s final in Qatar helped mask economic problems in the South American nation struggling with one of the world’s highest inflation rates.
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