15 people were injured in South Africa before a World Cup warmup between Nigeria and North Korea when thousands stormed the gates of the stadium. One police officer was seriously hurt in the process.
From NBC Sports:
Several fans fell under the rush of people, many wearing Nigeria jerseys. The Makhulong Stadium in the Johannesburg suburb seats about 12,000 fans.
The mayhem happened only five days before the start of the World Cup, the first to be held in Africa.
“At this moment we have 14 civilians that were slightly injured in the process, one policeman seriously injured,” police spokesman Lt. Col. Eugene Opperman said outside the stadium. The injured were being treated at a hospital, he said.
Opperman said tickets for the game were given out for free outside the stadium.
Following the fiasco, FIFA stated is was not involved whatsoever in the organization of the match.
Bottom line: These uncontrolled stampedes need to stop. Just last year 22 people died in the Ivory Coast while rushing to catch a World Cup qualifier.
