Stampede a World Cup wake-up call

08 June 2010 - 02:00
By unknown

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the South African stadium stampede that left a policeman seriously injured is "like an alarm clock" sounding to warn World Cup organisers.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the South African stadium stampede that left a policeman seriously injured is "like an alarm clock" sounding to warn World Cup organisers.

Blatter said Fifa regretted Sunday's incident, which left 15 people injured outside Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni. He said "this is like an alarm clock and this will not happen at any match at the World Cup".

The stampede occurred at a friendly between Nigeria and North Korea.

Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said yesterday that "we have to make sure that the police working around the World Cup stadiums will do better than what we have seen yesterday (Sunday)".

l South Africa qualified for the semifinals of the Copa Coca-Cola Football Stars tournament after a 1-0 win over an ECABU Invitation side at Germiston Sports Complex yesterday. Ramogelo Ratau scored against the team made up of players from Southern African countries. - Sapa-AP and Meshack Khotha