Stampede in front of stadium leaves one dead, several injured in Iraq

One person was killed and “dozens” were injured on Thursday in a stampede outside a football stadium in Iraq where the Gulf Cup final will be played.

Thousands of fans without tickets have gathered since dawn in front of the gates of the stadium in Basra (south) in the hope of watching the match between Iraq and Oman, which should start at 19:00 (13:00 GMT).

“There is one death and dozens of people slightly injured,” said a medical source, who requested anonymity.

An Interior Ministry official confirmed the balance, explaining that the crowd was due to “a large number of fans, particularly people without tickets, who had gathered since the morning and tried to enter” the stadium.

According to a photographer from AFP inside the sports complex, the gates were closed at the time of the riot. He said he heard sirens from several ambulances arriving to help the injured. In photos published on social networks, it is possible to see how a human tide tries to reach the stadium.

Prime Minister Mohamed Chia al-Soudani announced that he was on his way to the venue, according to a statement from his office. He presided over “an emergency meeting in the presence of some ministers and the governor of Basra”, organized “to discuss special measures for the final of the 25th Gulf Cup”, according to the same source.

The Iraqi Army asked, in a note, that the Iraqis “respect the instructions” regarding security in accessing the stadiums, to “close the championship in a civilized way that honors Iraq”.

This country, shaken by four decades of conflict, bet heavily on the 25th Gulf Cup, in Basra, to recover its image, after years without being able to organize international games due to security conditions.

It is the first time since 1979 that the Gulf Cup, an event that takes place every two years, has been held on Iraqi soil.

Several logistical problems have plagued the tournament since the opening ceremony two weeks ago. Thousands of fans, some of them with tickets, and duly accredited journalists were prevented from entering for no precise reason.

The tournament brings together eight countries (Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen and United Arab Emirates) and Iraq managed to qualify for the final, which will be played this Thursday against Oman.

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(Photo: Mailson Santana/FFC)