Ivorian officials held over deadly stampede

Ivorian football officials were in police custody Friday as part of a probe into last month’s stampede at Abidjan stadium that killed 19 fans, the national football federation, the FIF, said.

Albert Kacou Anzouan, chairman of the federation’s competitions organising committee, was arrested late Wednesday by police investigating his role in ticket sales, an FIF official told AFP.

Also held were the printer of the tickets for the Ivory Coast-Malawi World Cup qualifier and FIF chief accountant Jean-Baptiste Beugre, the official said.

They were the first arrests since an inquiry was launched on March 31, two days after the tragedy which also left more than 130 people injured.

Fans, desperate for a rare chance to see their idols who normally play for European clubs, forced their way through the gates of the 35,000 capacity stadium and tumbled down the steps of the terracing inside to be crushed by those behind.

Many of the supporters had tickets and were angry at being refused entry, witnesses said, accusing the security forces of taking bribes to let many ticketless people into the match.