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A stampede in Iraq on Thursday left at least one dead and “tens” injured in Basra, several hours before the final of the Gulf Cup football.
One person died and “dozens” of others were injured on Thursday, January 19, during a stampede outside a stadium in Irak where the final of the Gulf Cup of football is to take place, we learned from medical and security sources.
Thousands of ticketless fans thronged the gates of a stadium in Basra at dawn, hoping to watch the match between Iraq and Oman from 7 p.m. (4 p.m. GMT), when the stampede occurred.
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“There is one death and dozens of minor injuries,” said a medical source on condition of anonymity.
A Home Office official confirmed the toll, explaining that the crush was due to the “large number of fans, especially people without tickets, who had gathered since morning and tried to enter” the stadium. .
Many logistical problems
According to an AFP photographer inside the sports complex, the gates were closed when the stampede took place. He said he heard the sirens of many ambulances coming to help the injured.
In photos posted on social networks, we might see a human tide trying to reach the stadium.
Iraq, a country battered by four decades of conflict, relies heavily on the 25e Gulf Football Cup in Basra to restore its image following years without being able to organize international meetings because of the security situation. This is the first time since 1979 that the Gulf Cup, a bi-annual event, has been organized there.
But logistical problems plagued the tournament from the opening ceremony two weeks ago. Thousands of supporters – some with tickets – and duly accredited journalists were refused access to the stadium without a specific reason.
The tournament brought together eight countries (Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates) and Iraq managed to qualify for the final which is due to take place on Thursday evening.
With AFP
