Overcrowding Causes More Needless Death in Liberia

Terrible news coming out of Liberia, as eight to ten fans were killed by suffocation today at Liberia’s World Cup qualifiying match with Gambia. The details are still coming out, and are still sketchy, but we’ll pass along what we know so far. In an event sadly reminiscent of football-related tragedies in the past, a metal bar holding back upper-level fans apparently broke under pressure, causing several of them to fall over the edge and onto other fans. There are two separate reports from the area, one claiming eight are dead, the other ten, but in either case, this is another tragic and completely avoidable loss of life due to overcrowded terraces. Condolences from all of us at The Offside to the families and friends of those hurt and killed during what should have been a distraction from the daily worries of Liberian and Gambian fans. A solemn reminder that there are issues more pressing for FIFA than the 6+5 rule, and that the disasters at places like Hillsbrough and Ibrox are not just stories in football’s past. They represent real problems and real dangers that still exist in many stadiums throughout the world.

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Category: World Football