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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fans blamed for Ivorian stampede | Fans blamed for Ivorian stampede |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ticketless fans were behind Sunday's stadium stampede that left 19 people dead in Ivory Coast, officials say. | |
| The government is to hold an emergency meeting over the tragedy which left 132 people injured at the Houphouet-Boigny arena in the city of Abidjan. | |
| Police tried to keep the crowds back with tear gas but a wall collapsed and in the panic fans were crushed. | Police tried to keep the crowds back with tear gas but a wall collapsed and in the panic fans were crushed. |
| Many casualties were treated at the stadium as the match went ahead and hosts Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0. | Many casualties were treated at the stadium as the match went ahead and hosts Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0. |
| Ivory Coast Prime Minister Guillaume Soro is holding a crisis meeting on Monday with ministers and football officials to discuss the tragedy. | |
| 'Extreme sorrow' | 'Extreme sorrow' |
| World football's governing body has asked for a full report into what caused the tragedy as it sent condolences to the victims. | |
| The big attraction at the game was home-grown hero Didier Drogba | |
| Fifa President Sepp Blatter said: "I wish to express extreme sorrow and extend our condolences to the Ivorian football community and, most importantly, to family, friends and loved ones following the tragic deaths in Abidjan yesterday." | Fifa President Sepp Blatter said: "I wish to express extreme sorrow and extend our condolences to the Ivorian football community and, most importantly, to family, friends and loved ones following the tragic deaths in Abidjan yesterday." |
| Earlier reports said that 22 people had been killed. | |
| The national football association had told those without the prized tickets to stay away from the stadium. | |
| But thousands ignored the message hoping to see Ivory Coast's Europe-based football stars. | |
| The big attraction was home-grown hero Didier Drogba, who is regarded almost as a demi-god by his countrymen, says BBC Ivory Coast correspondent John James. | |
| The Chelsea striker - returning from injury - scored twice. | |
| He told me he was going to support the Elephants, and he never came back Lassana ToureBereaved father | |
| Our correspondent says it seems many fans were angry when the gates were shut. | Our correspondent says it seems many fans were angry when the gates were shut. |
| A crowd of supporters without tickets were reportedly pushing and shoving 40 minutes before the start of the game. | A crowd of supporters without tickets were reportedly pushing and shoving 40 minutes before the start of the game. |
| Ivorian Sports Minister Dagobert Banzio said there seemed to be more people outside the 35,000-capacity stadium than inside. | Ivorian Sports Minister Dagobert Banzio said there seemed to be more people outside the 35,000-capacity stadium than inside. |
| "Some spectators who didn't have tickets tried to force their way in," he said. | "Some spectators who didn't have tickets tried to force their way in," he said. |
| "Unfortunately they broke down one of the big gates and in the stampede people were crushed." | "Unfortunately they broke down one of the big gates and in the stampede people were crushed." |
| Meanwhile, families were recovering the bodies of their loved ones from Abidjan's main mortuary. | |
| One bereaved relative, Lassana Toure, wept as he collected the body of his 17-year-old son, Aboubacar. | |
| "He told me he was going to support the Elephants, and he never came back," Mr Toure told AFP news agency, referring to the national team. | |
| Abandoned shoes scattered near a twisted entrance gate to the stadium were the only traces of the tragedy on Monday. | |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
| The arena has just been refurbished but our correspondent says at this stage it seems the sheer number of people who wanted to get into the match proved too much. | The arena has just been refurbished but our correspondent says at this stage it seems the sheer number of people who wanted to get into the match proved too much. |
| Other Europe-based stars playing in Sunday's game were Drogba's Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou, as well as Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue of Arsenal. | Other Europe-based stars playing in Sunday's game were Drogba's Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou, as well as Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue of Arsenal. |
| The home side also featured Tottenham's Didier Zokora, Sevilla's Ndri Romaric and Marseille forward Bakari Kone. | The home side also featured Tottenham's Didier Zokora, Sevilla's Ndri Romaric and Marseille forward Bakari Kone. |
| The tragedy in Abidjan is the second such incident during qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in Africa. | |
| In June 2008, at least eight people died in a crush in Liberia as spectators jostled to get into an already overcrowded stadium in Monrovia for the match between Liberia and The Gambia. | |
| Were you at the stadium or do you have friends who you know were there? Are you affected by any of the issues raised in the story? | Were you at the stadium or do you have friends who you know were there? Are you affected by any of the issues raised in the story? |
| Please send us your comments using the form below. | Please send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |