Argentina’s football team went on a helicopter flight over Buenos Aires on Tuesday afternoon, abandoning a victory parade by bus that had become “impossible” because of an “explosion of popular joy,” the presidency announced.
"The world champions are flying over the entire planned route in helicopters, as it has become impossible to continue by road,” presidential spokesperson Gabriela Cerruti said in a tweet. “Let’s continue to celebrate in peace and show them our love and admiration.”
More than four million people, according to a municipal source, had crowded along the team’s route from the Argentine Federation complex, 32km from Buenos Aires, to the heart of the city.
A few minutes earlier, Federation president Chiqui Tapia had announced that the security authorities “would not let us get to the end to greet all the people" who were waiting at the Obelisk in the centre of the Plaza de la Republica, which was already packed with supporters.
“I would like to apologise on behalf of all the champions,” he added in a tweet.
The world champions' bus had started off as planned, but three hours later, it had only travelled about ten kilometres, slowed down along the way by tens of thousands of supporters wearing sky blue and white shirts.
Argentinian television footage showed, at one point along the route, a fan attempting to jump onto the bus as it passed just under a road bridge.
He missed his landing and ended up falling into the packed crowd that followed the bus on foot.
