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Nine people died of suffocation at the
Gambia versus Liberia World Cup
qualifier match on 1 June 2008 at Samuel
K. Doe stadium in Monrovia, Liberia.
The Liberian Football Association
(LFA) officials blamed overcrowding at
one of the entrances due to the selling of
counterfeit tickets for the deaths.
FIFA and the LFA will investigate the
circumstances.
Meanwhile the president of the Football
Association of Zambia, Kalusha Bwalya,
told BBC Sport that the tragedy in
Liberia should be a warning to the rest of
the continent.
Sweeping safety measures have
been introduced since South Africa was
awarded the rights to host the 2010
World Cup.
In addition to the infrastructure
upgrades, South Africa is working to
allay fears that there could be social unrest
during the World Cup. A recent wave of
anti-immigrant violence has prompted
speculation that security could be a
problem for the country.
South Africa’s deputy national
police commissioner, Andre Pruis, is
optimistic that the 2010 World Cup will
be a peaceful success.
“South Africa will be safer by the
2010 World Cup, our goal is to lower
the crime rate year-by-year by between
seven and ten percent,” Pruis told a press
conference at the South African embassy
in Berlin in May.
South Africa’s police force has
approximately $192.5 million dedi-
cated to securing the 2010 World Cup.
The 41,000 member police force will be
enhanced by officers from other countries
in keeping with the 2006 World Cup
model.
Insight
World Cup
2010
Spectator Tragedy Casts
Shadow on 2010 World Cup
Preparations in Africa
FIFA Africa Background:
Africa was chosen as the host for the 2010World Cup as part of a new policy to
rotate the event between football confederations; in October 2007 this policy
would be abandoned. Five African nations placed bids to host the 2010World Cup.
America 1994
France 1998
Korea/Japan 2002
Germany 2006
Dates:
17 June – 17 July
Teams:
24
Venues:
9
Attendance:
3,587,538
Dates:
10 June – 12 July
Teams:
32
Venues:
10
Attendance:
2,785,100
Dates:
31 May – 30 June
Teams:
32
Venues:
20
Attendance:
2,705,197
Dates:
9 June – 9 July
Teams:
32
Venues:
12
Attendance:
3,353,655
World Cup
History:
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