2 dead, dozen wounded in stampede at Gulf Cup in Iraq

• Thousands of fans who had not purchased tickets had gathered outside the stadium.
• Two people were killed and approximately 80 were injured.
• Iraq will face Oman in the final of the eight-nation Arabian Gulf Cup today.

Iraq: At least two people were killed and dozens were injured in a stampede at a stadium in Basra, southern Iraq, ahead of the Arabian Gulf Cup final.

The Iraqi interior ministry reported that two people were killed and approximately 80 were injured in the stampede on Thursday.

According to a medical source, some of those injured were in critical condition.

Iraq will face Oman in the final of the eight-nation Arabian Gulf Cup Today at 7 p.m. (16:00 GMT).

Thousands of fans who had not purchased tickets had gathered outside the stadium since the morning in the hopes of witnessing the rare home international match.

According to a photographer inside the stadium, the turnstiles were still closed when the stampede began. As ambulances arrived to transport the injured to hospitals, sirens blared.

Injured football fan says ‘chaos’ rapidly spread at Basra stadium

Moumen Adnan, a football fan, was lightly injured while fleeing the scene of the stampede at Basra’s stadium. “I did not expect such chaos to happen. Because of the stampede, I fell and injured my hand,” he said.

Due to the large crowds, Adnan had been unable to reach the main gate. He was able to push through a gate reserved for the media after the stampede broke out and confusion quickly ensued.

“I don’t expect the final to take place under these difficult circumstances,” he said.

People without tickets must not head to Basra stadium: Minister

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The director of media and public relations at the Ministry of Interior has said in a statement that fans should not go to Basra’s stadium unless they have tickets for the match.

“The numbers of fans are very large, and we do not want there to be cases of suffocation, and the pressure will be doubled on the security forces,” the Iraqi News Agency quoted Major General Saad Maan as saying.

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Maan called on the fans to “commit to the regulations and instructions issued by the security forces” and said it was possible to watch the match in public spaces.

“Joy cannot be complete, and there can be no winning except with the safety of citizens,” he added.

Palm Trunk Stadium’s gates have been closed

All gates to Basra’s Palm Trunk Stadium have been closed due to overcrowding.

According to Iraqi media, interior ministry officials are meeting to discuss the next steps. Deferring the game is an option, but it will only be used as a last resort.

According to sources, fans will be able to access a second stadium in Basra

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According to sources, the Al Minaa Stadium in Basra could be opened and large screens installed to allow fans to watch the Arabian Gulf Cup final.

The Palm Trunk Stadium has a seating capacity of 65,000 people. Tens of thousands of fans from across the Gulf have travelled to Basra to watch the final between Iraq and Oman.

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