Mexico City Sport Director Says No Major Damage to Estadio Azteca in Earthquake

Contrary to initial reports, the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City did not sustain significant damage as a result of the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit Central Mexico on Tuesday.

In a since-deleted tweet, Emilio Leon of Fox Sports (via USA Today's Kevin Spain) shared a photo of the Azteca's exterior, which appeared to show a fracture.

However, Mexico City's general director of sport, Horacio de la Vega, tweeted there was no major damage to the stadium, per FC Yahoo's Henry Bushnell, who also noted the purported fracture "is a junta constructiva, as many Spanish-speaking journalists put it—a constructive joint."

According to CNN's Nicole Chavez, Steve Almasy, Ray Sanchez and Darran Simon, at least 149 people died from the earthquake. According to USA Today's David Agren and Greg Toppo, the earthquake's epicenter was near Raboso—roughly 76 miles from Mexico City.

The Azteca is not only a legendary venue in North American soccer but also the world as a whole. The regular home of Liga MX side Club America, it has hosted numerous World Cup qualifying fixtures for the Mexico national team, and it housed the finals of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.

Two of the most famous World Cup matches took place in the Estadio Azteca: Argentina's 2-1 quarterfinal win over England in 1986 that featured Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal and Brazil's 4-1 final victory over Italy in 1970, the crowning achievement for one of the best national teams ever assembled.