FIFA Probing Football Tragedy in Liberia

Subject: FIFA Probing Football Tragedy in Liberia Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:46 pm

FIFA Probing Football Tragedy in Liberia; Govt. Points to ‘Fake Tickets’

Monrovia -
Football’s World Governing body, FIFA said late Monday that it is very saddened to learn about the tragic incidents which occurred at the Samuel K. Doe stadium in Monrovia three-and-a-half hours before Sunday's qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ between Liberia and Gambia.

”FIFA is currently investigating the circumstances together with the match commissioner and the Liberian Football Federation (LFA),” a statement posted on FIFA’s website said Monday.

On Monday Minister of Youth and Sports, Mrs. Etmonia Tarpeh has contradicted earlier reports that nine people had died in the disaster; instead, she said that eight people (seven men and one woman) died in the tragedy as investigations continues into what went wrong at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex during Liberia’s Lone Star football match with the Gambian Scorpions. She said that the victims died from “heat exhaustion”.

EXHAUSTION FAULT

“Haven’t stood out in the sun for that length of time, by the time they got to their seats and people crowing in to get a seat that also could have attributed to some of the exhaustion that they experienced out there."
Etmonia Tarpeh, Minister of Youth and Sports, RL

Though the Youth and Sports Minister attributed fake tickets and over crowdedness as reasons for the disaster, also the hot weather was also an important factor. “You know people were actually gathering on the field from about seven in the morning. The gates didn’t open until almost 12:00 mid-day.

“Haven’t stood out in the sun for that length of time, by the time they got to their seats and people crowing in to get a seat that also could have attributed to some of the exhaustion that they experienced out there,” she said.

In addition, the secretary general of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), Mr. George Williams has admitted that the association in a way is responsible, but said the tragedy could have been much worse. “Yes, we (the LFA) are responsible, but things could have been worse,” Williams said.

He said generally, there was the situation where there were more people at the game than the stadium could cater for which caused the overcrowding at gates 15 and 16 that then led to suffocation, which he termed “unfortunate”.

Mr. Williams said that due to the situation fire trucks were called in to spill water on the crowd which in a way helped the overall situation. “Them spraying water over the people reduced the level of suffocation and also helped the crowd calm down,” he stated.

Football’s world’s governing body, FIFA says it’s very saddened by the tragic incidents and it’s looking into the tragedy along with the match commissioner and the Liberia Football Association (LFA).

Though the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not made a comment as yet, they are also waiting to receive the report from the Match Commissioner.

However, the president of the Football Association of Zambia (Faz), Kalusha Bwalya, and a representative for FIFA’s technical development committee, in a BBC Sports interview, said the tragedy in Liberia should be a warning to Africa. He said it a shame that another tragedy had occurred so soon after 12 fans died following an international game at a stadium in his home country, Zambia, in 2007.

“It’s always very sad because football is a game that brings out the good in people, the competitive age of the people and it’s always sad that we’ll always come to a situation where we have to lose lives when its supposed to be a time of glory in the sport,” he said; terming the tragedy as “unfortunate”.

Bwalya, who was recently in Sierra Leone to inspect safety and security at the main stadium in Sierra Leone on behalf of FIFA, the former African Footballer of the Year said as the ongoing qualifies continue, this should be a wake-up call for everybody to ensue that we don’t have a repeat where we are going to endanger our spectators.

Some of the victims in front of the stadium shortly after Sunday's incident.

Meanwhile, people have begun expressing sympathy to the bereaved families for those who unexpectedly lost their lives. Mohammed Konneh said the failure to control the crowd by authorities of the game resulted in the deaths of fellow Liberians.

For his part, Mayango Deddeh said, “Yesterday was a sad day in Liberia’s football history. Security should be held responsible for these deaths.”

Joe Banto suggested that the LFA try to number the seats in the stadium to stop the overcrowding of stadiums around Africa. “Let’s learn from our European brothers,” he said; adding, “My condolences to the bereaved families.”

As the games continue at the weekend, the Liberia’s Lone Star departed the country on Sunday evening for Algiers, Algeria where they are expected to play the Algerian national team this Friday, 6th June 2008.

They return to play Senegal here at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sport Complex, if there are not any repercussions by FIFA on the stadium in Monrovia in a fortnight.

Subject: Re: FIFA Probing Football Tragedy in Liberia Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:25 pm

This is really sad......I wish stronger measure be taken to prevent such a situation form happening again.

Subject: Re: FIFA Probing Football Tragedy in Liberia Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:38 pm

Man its sad.. par that picture there can be disturbing to some people meh..
_________________
Share some love folks cause it does conquer all!