Our thoughts are with the people of the Ivory Coast

Football was put firmly into perspective on Sunday when twenty-two people died and one hundred and thirty were injured at a game in the Ivory Coast.

The Government has announced that an inquiry will be held into the incident in Abidjan, but the early reports blame the stampede on fans who arrived at the game without tickets.

Many of the casualties were treated at the stadium as the match went ahead. The hosts beat Malawi in the game 5-0, a victory that was scant consolation for a nation that finds itself in mourning for several of their football fans.

The Ivory Coast national football association had told those without tickets to stay away, but it appears that thousands ignored the message and turned up at the stadium hoping to catch a glimpse of Ivory Coast’s Europe-based football stars, including their hero, Didier Drogba of Chelsea.

Ivorian Sports Minister Dagobert Banzio said that there seemed to be more people outside the 35,000-capacity stadium than there were inside. He said,

“Some spectators who didn’t have tickets tried to force their way in. Unfortunately they broke down one of the big gates and in the stampede people were crushed.”

Reports suggested that Police tried to keep the crowds back with tear gas but a wall collapsed and in the panic fans were crushed.

A BBC reporter at the game said that many fans were angry when the gates were shut. He reported that a crowd of supporters without tickets were pushing and shoving forty minutes before the start of the game.

Obviously, as was discovered after the Hillsborough tragedy many years ago, it can be wrong to try to allocate blame so soon after the event and it is hoped that the inquiry can be conducted in such a way that the appropriate lessons are learnt.

Fifa President Sepp Blatter said:

“I wish to express extreme sorrow and extend our condolences to the Ivorian football community and, most importantly, to family, friends and loved ones following the tragic deaths in Abidjan yesterday.”

Players who played in the game included Didier Drogba, who scored twice and his Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou. Arsenal’s Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, Tottenham’s Didier Zokora, Sevilla’s Ndri Romaric and Marseille’s Bakari Kone.

Those players and the officials and players of both sides, together with the fans that were at the game and the families and friends of the injured and deceased, will never forget Sunday. Nor should the rest of the footballing world as we get together to do all we can to ensure that this type of tragedy that happens every few years, is never allowed to happen again.

I believe that football is an international language and that it has the power to unite nations where politics and other formal avenues are never likely to. However, gathering to watch a match is never worth causing injury to anyone, let alone death.

I have never been to the Ivory Coast and I have no idea of what life is like in that part of the world. It is highly unlikely that I know anyone who was involved in the incident or saw what happened.

I just want those people in the Ivory Coast who are suffering to know that football supporters around the world share your grief and wish you well.

All at SoccerNews send their deepest condolences to all those affected by the events of Sunday.