Bus procession cut short after chaotic scenes as fans attempted to jump onto the vehicle, forcing players to be evacuated.

Argentina’s celebratory bus parade following their World Cup 2022 triumph was abruptly halted in Buenos Aires due to safety concerns, as chaotic scenes unfolded.

Millions of fans gathered in the streets for the festivities, with a national holiday declared on Tuesday to mark the occasion. The bus parade, which began at noon local time, was initially filled with joyous fans basking in the summer sun. However, as the bus approached a bridge, some fans tried to jump on, and footage showed one supporter falling from the vehicle.

For their safety, the Argentina squad was then evacuated by helicopter, before the bus could reach the public square and the famous Obelisk monument. Presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti explained on Twitter that the parade had to be abandoned due to the “explosion of joy” that became unmanageable.

Chiqui Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, apologised for the disruption on behalf of the victorious players, calling it a “shame”.

The national pride surrounding the team was palpable, with Argentina’s third World Cup victory marking the first since 1986 and bringing comparisons to the era of Diego Maradona.

The celebrations had already been non-stop since Gonzalo Montiel’s winning penalty in Sunday’s nail-biting shootout against France.

Although France’s Kylian Mbappe and his team were welcomed in Paris the night before, the Albiceleste squad returned to Buenos Aires after a stopover in Rome, arriving in the early hours of Tuesday to a raucous reception. They paraded the World Cup in front of thousands of fans at 4am, and Lionel Messi, embracing the trophy, continued the celebrations before getting back on the bus for the formal procession.

The parade was to conclude at the Obelisk, Buenos Aires’ iconic 235-foot-high monument, where fans continued their exuberant support, some even climbing the spire to wave Argentina flags.