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Fans blamed for Ivorian stampede | Fans blamed for Ivorian stampede |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ticketless football fans were behind Sunday's 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 stadium in the biggest city, Abidjan. | |
However, some supporters have said security forces sparked the stampede when they fired tear gas at crowds. | |
Casualties were treated at the stadium as the World Cup qualifier went ahead and hosts Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0. | Casualties were treated at the stadium as the World Cup qualifier 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. | Ivory Coast Prime Minister Guillaume Soro is holding a crisis meeting on Monday with ministers and football officials to discuss the tragedy. |
'Provoked' | |
World football's governing body has asked for a full report into what caused the tragedy as it sent condolences to the victims. | World football's governing body has asked for a full report into what caused the tragedy as it sent condolences to the victims. |
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." |
He told me he was going to support the Elephants, and he never came back Lassana ToureBereaved father In pictures: Stadium disaster 'I saw police takes bribes' 'Stampedes not an issue' for 2010 | |
Earlier reports said that 22 people had been killed. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | The Chelsea striker - returning from injury - scored twice. |
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." |
The big attraction at the game was home-grown hero Didier Drogba | |
But some fans blamed the police. | |
"The stampede was provoked by the security forces who threw tear gas canisters at us. I don't know why they fired on us," Diarassouba Adama told the AP news agency outside the morgue. | |
One bereaved relative, Lassana Toure, wept as he collected the body of his 17-year-old son, Aboubacar. | 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. | "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. | Abandoned shoes scattered near a twisted entrance gate to the stadium were the only traces of the tragedy on Monday. |
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. |
FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
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. | 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. | 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. |
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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 |