I. Coast: Court rules on match stampede case

  1. Posted on Sunday 26 July 2009 - 06:45
    KingsleyKobo
    Image of KingsleyKobo
    Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivory
    An Ivorian court has sentenced the chairman of the country's football federation (FIF) match organizing committee, Albert Kacou Anzouan, to six months imprisonment for his involvement in a deadly stadium stampede during a World Cup qualifier in March 2009. He was found guilty of printing fake tickets.
    Ivory_Cost_Madagascar_Dogninan Raoul
    Anzouan’s action led to a huge and disproportionate turnout of football fans surpassing the 34,600-capacity stadium, according to state media, RTI. He was also fined $1,000 for manslaughter and fraud.

    Faustin Aka, responsible for ticketing, was also given the same sentence. Two other people from a sub-contracting firm involved in the printing of these fake tickets were given a three-month sentence each.

    The director general of FIF, Ardjouama Koné, his accountant, Andoh Beugré and three others were acquitted. Three police officers will be judged by another court.

    Football’s world governing body FIFA fined the Ivorian football federation $47,000 early this week after an enquiry into the stadium tragedy. It also imposed series of safety measures and announced a donation of $96,000 to families of the victims.

    20 people died and more than 130 fans were injured in the stampede when thousands of football lovers tried to force their way into an already jam-packed Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan to see the match Ivory Coast – Malawi.

    The Ivorian side had crushed the Malawians 5 – 0.

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