List of fatal disasters at global stadiums
Sep 12, 2012, 12:18 PM
LONDON (AP) – The relatives of 96 soccer fans who were crushed to death in 1989 in Britain’s worst sports disaster were granted access Wednesday to previously secret documents on the tragedy. Here’s a list of some of the worst fatal disasters at sports stadiums:
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Oct. 20, 1982 _ Moscow; 340 people are reportedly killed at a European Cup match between Spartak Moscow and Haarlem of the Netherlands. Police are blamed for pushing fans down a narrow, icy staircase before the end of the match. When a late goal is scored, fans try to re-enter the stadium and many are crushed. Moscow officials dispute the report made by the Soviet Sports Committee, saying only 61 died and police did not push fans.
May 24, 1964 _ Lima, Peru; 318 people are killed and another 500 injured in riots at National Stadium after Argentina beats Peru in an Olympic qualifying match. The pandemonium breaks out after the referee disallows a Peruvian goal in the final minutes.
April 15, 1989 _ Sheffield, England; 96 people are crushed to death at an FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium.
March 12, 1988 _ Katmandu, Nepal; At least 93 people are killed and more than 100 injured when fans fleeing a hailstorm stampede into locked stadium exits.
Oct. 16, 1996 _ Guatemala City; At least 78 people die and about 180 others are injured during a stampede before a World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Costa Rica.
June 23, 1968 _ Buenos Aires, Argentina; 74 people are killed and over 150 injured following a first-division game between River Plate and Boca Juniors when fans trying to leave hit a closed exit and are crushed.
Feb. 1, 2012 _ Port Said, Egypt; Egyptian state TV says at least 73 are killed as fans of rival teams Al-Masry and Al-Ahly rush the field following Al-Masry’s 3-1 upset victory. Fans hurled stones and sticks, sparking a stampede.
Jan. 2, 1971 _ Glasgow, Scotland; 66 people are killed and 140 are injured when barriers in Ibrox Stadium collapse near the end of a match between Celtic and Rangers.
May 11, 1985 _ Bradford, England; 56 people die when a cigarette stub starts a stadium fire.
Feb. 17, 1974 _ Cairo, Egypt; Crowds attempting to enter a club game break down barriers and 49 people are trampled to death.
April 11, 2001 _ Johannesburg, South Africa; 47 people were killed during a league match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in an overcrowded stadium.
Jan. 13, 1991 _ Orkney, South Africa; at least 40 people are killed, most of them trampled or crushed along riot-control fences that surrounded the field.
May 29, 1985 _ Brussels, Belgium; 39 people are killed at the European Cup final at Heysel Stadium when riots break out and a wall separating rival fans of Liverpool and Juventus collapses.
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