Iraq: One dead and 60 injured in crowds in front of football stadium

Basra
One dead and 60 injured in crowds outside soccer stadium in Iraq

Before the final match of the Gulf Cup between Iraq and Oman: football fans crowd in front of the Jaza’a Al Nakhla stadium in Basra. One person was killed and 60 injured in the stampede around the stadium in southern Iraq.

© Ismael Adnan / DPA

A crowd gathers near a soccer stadium in southern Iraq. One person dies and several are injured. Some of them are in mortal danger.

One person was killed and at least 60 injured in a scrum near a soccer stadium in southern Iraq. The Iraqi state news agency INA reported on Thursday, citing medical circles. Several of the injured were in mortal danger after the incident in the city of Basra. Videos on the Internet showed a tightly packed crowd in front of an entrance to the stadium.

Iraq: More than 50,000 fans arrived

The Arabian Gulf Cup has been running in Basra for two weeks. As hosts of the biannual regional soccer tournament, Iraq is hoping to pull itself out of its ongoing political crisis and long years of conflict and terror. Fifa President Gianni Infantino attended the opening ceremony. According to official information, more than 50,000 fans traveled from the Arabian Gulf States. Iraq and Oman were scheduled to meet in the final on Thursday evening.

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