SPORTING DISASTERS
Added on: 16th Feb 2015
THE END OF MICHAEL WATSON’S CAREER
A British boxer, Michael Watson had his career end prematurely
after he lost his fight against Chris Eubank for the super
middleweight title. He lasted until the 12th round of the game,
but after getting a series of blows from Eubank, he collapsed in the ring.
After 30 minutes, he still could not stand up. He was in a coma for
40 days and underwent six brain operations.
THE DEATH OF AYRTON SENNA
On May 1, 1994, Ayrton Senna, three-time Formula One World Champion,
got killed after his car crashed into a concrete barrier during the 1994
San Marino Grand Prix in Italy. He was actually in the lead when he
crashed and he is still considered one of the best drivers in the sport.
THE DEATH OF HANSIE CRONJE
On June 1, 2001, Hansie Cronje, a famous South African cricketer,
was flying home but as the aircraft approached the airport, the
pilot lost visibility and the plane crashed into the mountains. There are
theories that Cronje was murdered upon the orders of a cricket
betting syndicate because of his involvement in match fixing.
CAMEROON DISASTER
On October 31, 1976, two bystanders got killed as a fight broke out
between the teams of Cameroon and Congo in a World Cup qualifying
match. After Cameroon was awarded with a penalty kick, the Congolese
goalie attacked the referee, spurring a riot on the field.
HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS TRAGEDY
Around ten athletes associated with Hendrick Motorsports were
killed in a plane crash that took place on October 24, 2004 after it
was caught in a heavy fog and crashed into Bull Mountain in Stuart, Virginia.
Six of those who died were Hendrick family members and employees,
while the rest were pilots and directors of the DuPont Motorsports Program.
THE MUNICH OLYMPICS 1972 MASSACRE
During the 1972 Munich Olympics held in Munich, West Germany, 11
members of the Israeli Olympic Team were taken hostage and killed by
a Palestinian Group known as Black September. Along with the
killed athletes was a German police officer. Black September demanded
the release of 234 prisoners held in Israeli jails following the massacre.
ALIANZA LIMA 1987 AIR TRAGEDY
On December 7, 1987, Peruvian First Division Football Club Alianza
made a trip to Pucallpa for the football league. It won the match
2-0 against Deportivo Pucallpa. As the team took a charter flight back
the day after, the Peruvian Navy airplane they were on crashed,
killing all the members of the team.
ARMAND CESARI STADIUM DISASTER
On May 5, 1992, around 18 were killed and thousands were injured
as one of the terraces of the Armand Cesari Stadium in France collapsed.
Structural problems and improper construction were claimed
responsible for the disaster.
1902 IBROX DISASTER
On April 5, 1902 during the British Home Championship between the
teams of Scotland and England at Ibrox Park in Glasgow, Scotland,
517 supporters were injured and 25 were killed after the back of the
newly built West Tribune Stand collapsed because of heavy rainfall.
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