This latest round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers has been marred by a stadium stampede in the Ivory Coast that killed 22 football fans and injured more than 130. The incident occurred 40 minutes before the match between the West African side and Malawi in the capital Abidjan, writes Craig Urquhart. FIFA has ordered an investigation, but it has once again highlighted an emotive issue. The reality is that soccer attracts large crowds around the world, often leaving police and security officials overwhelmed. There have been many examples of this over the years. In 2001, 43 spectators lost their lives at a Kaizer Chiefs/Orlando Pirates. It was the worst accident in South African sports history, surpassing a stampede a decade earlier when 42 people died during a match between the same two teams in the mining town of Orkney. And it's not just an African problem — remember Heysel in 1985 when 30 people died during the European Cup final, or Hillsborough in England (four years later) when a stampede left 96 Liverpool supporters dead? Nevertheless, since South Africa was awarded the rights to host the 2010 World Cup, major safety measures have been introduced at stadiums around the country. This was evident at Saturday’s Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg when thousands of spectators missed the start of the match because they arrived late and had had to go through stringent security checks before they even entered the stadium. The Premier Soccer League (PSL) is working closely with FIFA and the 2010 Local Organising Committee to change the mindset of local fans. As part of Africa's legacy, it is crucial that we share these lessons with the rest of the continent.
  • Email Craig at sport@metropolis.co.za with a comment or simply post a message below!
  • 'Inside 2010' will appear weekly on iafrica.com, so log on next week for more inside info ahead of SA's biggest tournament to date.
  • Urquhart is a former FIFA World Cup Media Officer and the current editor of Project2010.
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