Thursday, a crowd movement outside a stadium in Iraq, which is to host the final of the Gulf Cup of football, killed one person and injured “dozens of others”, confided under cover of anonymity of medical and security sources.
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. which will host the game between Iraq and Oman from 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Iraq hosted this tournament for the first time in more than 40 years
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 could see a human tide trying to reach the stadium.
Iraq, a country battered by four decades of conflict, is betting heavily on the 25th Gulf Football Cup in Basra to restore its image after 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 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 to take place on Thursday evening.