Argentina World Cup Celebrations Abandoned After Fan Jumps Onto Team Bus

Argentina's World Cup celebrations had to be suspended amid chaotic scenes in Buenos Aires that saw a fan jump from a bridge onto a bus carrying the players.

Following the Albiceleste's victory over France in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) had organized an open-top bus parade of the country's captial that an estimated four million people attended, making it almost impossible for the vehicle to move.

Pictures and videos have shown the extent of the wild celebrations and the risks taken by fans to get an unobstructed vantage point of the victory parade.

One video, which was widely shared on social media, shows the team bus passing slowly under a road bridge which was jammed full of celebrating fans.

One then jumps down onto the team bus while another leaps down only to bounce off the back of the bus and fall to the ground among the crowds following the vehicle.

The video shows the supporter being stretchered away after being injured but still in high spirits as he sings with joy about the World Cup win.

The AFA then confirmed the players bus tour had been abandoned because of security concerns, with the players moved to helicopters so that they could fly over the remainder of the parade route.

The AFA said: "The players of the Argentine soccer team ended the festivities by flying over in a helicopter over the crowd of fans who gathered in the city.

"They made that decision after verifying that they could not continue advancing by bus in the middle of the crowd."

AFA president Claudio Tapia expressed sadness that the tour had ended abruptly and that the team were not able to greet all the fans who had shown up.

Tapia said: "They don't let us get to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security agencies that escorted us don't allow us to move forward.

"A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players. A shame."

The route was meant to take the players to the central El Obelisco de Buenos Aires but the sheer numbers in the crowd made the journey impossible.

Presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti wrote on Twitter: "The world champions are flying over the entire route in helicopters because it became impossible to continue on land due to the explosion of popular joy.

"Let's continue to celebrate in peace and show them our love and admiration!"

The players had arrived at Ezeiza Airport on Tuesday at 3 a.m. local time and were greeted by thousands of fans, with many bringing flags and flares to salute their soccer heroes.

The joy of the World Cup win has helped Argentines to temporarily put to the back of their minds the continued economic problems in their country, which has one of the highest inflation rates in the world.

Sunday's victory was the third time that Argentina has won the World Cup, the first since iconic soccer star Diego Maradona lifted the trophy in 1986.

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