Posted in News on Mar 07, 2005.
Twenty-five people were injured when 50 000 people attempted to squeeze into a 25 000-capacity soccer stadium in Madagascar on Sunday, sources said.
The incident, in which two children were seriously injured, happened ahead of a match in the capital Antananarivo between Madagascar USJF Ravinala and South African side Kaizer Chiefs.
"There was an enormous crush at the entrance because 50 000 people were trying to enter a stadium which holds 25 000" said Sylvain Ranjalahy, spokesperson for the Madagascar football federation, who attended the game.
"There was so much pressure on the gates that the doors were opened and people were crushed," Health Minister Dr Jean-Louis Robinson said.
Seventeen of the 25 injured were kept in hospital. The two children suffered skull injuries, he said.
