Headline PH: Soccer fans stampede outside South African stadium

TEMBISA, South Africa – Thousands of soccer fans stampeded outside a stadium Sunday before a World Cup warmup match between Nigeria and North Korea, leaving 10 people injured, including a policeman.

Several fans could be seen falling under the rush of people, many wearing Nigeria jerseys. The Makhulong Stadium in the Johannesburg suburb seats about 12,000 fans.

"This is a friendly game," police spokesman Col. Hangwani Mulaudzi said, "and I think the fans were excited to come and see their heroes who will be participating in the World Cup."

Mulaudzi said that because this was a friendly, the Nigerian team, designated the host, was responsible for security. Once trouble broke out, he said, police stepped in to control the situation.

The World Cup begins Friday.

One fan, wearing a South Africa rugby jersey and bleeding from the head, said the crowd overpowered him.

"I fell down and people just fell over me," Japhta Mombelo said. "That crowd is overpowering. The police have told me to stay around and they will organize an ambulance but I am still waiting."

The first rush came when the gates opened to allow fans into the stadium. Police soon closed the gates, but when they were reopened, a second rush occurred, with more people falling and being run over.

"When we were coming in they were just stepping on us," said Princess Mbali, who was wearing a green South Africa shirt. "I thought I was dying. I was at the bottom."

Shortly after the second rush, the gates were closed again and much of the crowd dissipated.

"The police aren't saying anything, just go and watch the match," Mbali said. "How can we watch the match when we are hurt? Maybe my ribs are broken. No one is helping us and we are South Africans."

The injured policeman was bloodied in the crush and later taken away on a stretcher. Other fans who appeared to be lightly injured walked away from the scene as it calmed down.

By GERALD IMRAY,
AP Sports Writer

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