Ivory Coast: Tough response to stadium disaster

Ivorian authorities vowed Monday to punish those responsible for the Abidjan stadium stampede that killed at least 19 fans before the national team played a World Cup qualifying match.

More than 130 were injured in the chaos outside the 35,000-capacity stadium before Ivory Coast played against Malawi in a game that featured several stars from big European clubs, including Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

“Those responsible will be located very quickly and I am sure that sanctions will be taken,” Ivorian Football Federation president Jacques Anouma told state television after attending a government crisis meeting.

Prime Minister Guillaume Soro called together top ministers, police and sports authorities to discuss the government’s response to Sunday’s deadly crush, amid accusations that the huge crowd was swelled by non-ticket holders who had bribed their way past security at the Houphouet-Boigny stadium.

Anouma said he was compiling a detailed report demanded by world football body FIFA.

Stewards working in and around the stadium said fans, desperate to see their European-based idols, forced their way through the gates and tumbled down the steps of the terracing inside to be crushed by those behind.

Many of the supporters had tickets and were angry at being refused entry, witnesses said, saying that the security forces had taken bribes to let many ticketless people into the match.

ABIDJAN, Tuesday, AFP