FIFA fine Ivory Coast

July 23, 2009

World football’s governing body FIFA on Wednesday fined Ivory Coast’s football federation and imposed crowd restrictions following a deadly stampede at Abidjan’s main stadium last March.

FIFA have fined the Ivorian Football federation $4,7000 but has also donated $96,000 to a fund set-up for the victims’ families.

The safety measures will be in place for the Elephants’ next round of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in September.

The capacity for the match against Burkina Faso on 5 September will be set at 20,000, with a control cordon to be set up at least one kilometre from the stadium.

A separate spectator control cordon around 200 metres away will prevent non-ticket holders getting through.

“The total capacity of the stadium (34,600) will only be allowed in subsequent matches if the above-mentioned measures are applied for each match,” Fifa said in a statement.

Fifa investigators spoke with Ivorian police, football and government officials but the disciplinary ruling did not blame anyone.

More than 130 people were injured as Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0, with a reported 36,000 trying to cram into a stadium which has a capacity of 34,600.

The crush occurred when thousands of fans massed outside the Felix Boigny stadium before the World Cup qualifier.

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