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Seven dead in Kenya football stampede
Football fans at a past match. Seven people are feared dead after a stampede at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.
By WALTER MENYA
Posted Saturday, October 23 2010 at 20:26
The highy-billed Premier League clash between perennial rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards turned tragic after seven fans died following a stampede at Nyayo Stadium Saturday.
Football Kenya official Frank Okoth said the stampede was caused by fans, who did not have match tickets but attempted to force their way into the stadium.
This game has surprised everybody, said Okoth at half-time when he spoke on pay TV Supersport that was televising the match.
There were so many fans outside who attempted to force their way into the stadium but they did not have match tickets.
According to the FKL official, the rowdy fans then brought down a gate.
In the process, some fell down and they were trampled upon by other fans, he said.
We have heard that six people have died but we leave to the medical people to confirm.
Police, however, put the number of dead at seven, shortly after the Premier League clash started at around 7.10 p.m.
Witnesses blamed the FKL and Kenya Premier League for poor organisation leading to many fans being locked out.
One fan told the Nation that there was no football official nether were the police on sight to control the surging crowds.
The fan said people were trampled upon by fans who wanted to get into the stadium.
There were no ambulances nor any assistance. Nothing, the angry fan who witnessed the incident said.
Instead, it was the members of the public, who attempted to assist the injured to hospital. Many of those injured were said to have suffered broken limbs and ribs.
Inside the stadium, the match went on albeit with an interruption when a fan strayed into the pitch as a Gor Mahia player was preparing to take a corner kick. The fan was roughed up as he was led off the field of play.
The match was stopped for about 15 minutes as the referee consulted with the linesman and the fourth official.
Daily Nation:*- Football*|Seven dead in Kenya football stampede