SPORT DISASTERS
Added on: 8th May 2015
GABON AIR DISASTER
On April 27, 1993, all 30 members of the Zambia National Football Team
were killed as the plane that was carrying them to Senegal crashed.
The team was about to play in the 1994 World Cup Qualification Match.
BURNDEN PARK DISASTER
Occurring on March 9, 1946, the Burnden Park Disaster is considered
the deadliest stadium-related disaster in the history of Great Britain.
The crowd that day was in excess of 85,000 fans, causing a stampede
that killed 33 and injured hundreds.
HEYSEL STADIUM DISASTER
The Heysel Stadium Disaster happened on May 29, 1985 at the Heysel
Stadium in Brussels, Belgium before the opening of the 1985 European
Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus. The disaster was the
consequence of a wild riot between Liverpool fans and Juventus fans
which caused the wall that separates their sections to collapse.
This disaster killed 39 Juventus fans.
OPPENHEIMER STADIUM DISASTER
Known as the second worst sporting incident in South African history,
the Oppenheimer Stadium Disaster happened on January 31, 1991
at the Oppenheimer Stadium in Orkney, South Africa. 30,000 fans
were admitted when the stadium had a capacity of just 23,000.
Moreover, fans were not separated based on team sections.
After a ruling from a referee concerning a score from the Chiefs which
led to an objection from the Pirate’s fans, an all-out brawl ensued
in the stands. This led to 42 deaths.
ELLIS PARK STADIUM STAMPEDE
On April 11, 2001, fans attempted to push themselves into the
Ellis Park Stadium but were trapped against a barbed wire.
The league match between the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates
overcrowded the soccer stadium with fans, leading to the death
of over 47 people.
ZAMALEK DISASTER
During a supposedly friendly football match between Zamalek SC
of Egypt and Dukla Prague of Czechoslovakia at the Zamalek Stadium,
around 50 people were killed in a stampede after 80,000 people tried
to cram into a 40,000 person stadium.
BRADFORD CITY STADIUM FIRE
Considered the worst fire disaster in the history of English football,
the Bradford City Stadium fire occurred on May 11, 1985 at the
Valley Parade Stadium during a match against Lincoln City.
During the game, a small fire was initially reported by the TV commentator
but in less than four minutes, the strong winds caused it to engulf
a large section of the stands. This fire killed 56 and injured at least 265.
PUERTA 12 TRAGEDY
After a match between the Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate,
a stampede at gate 12, or puerta 12, left 71 fans killed and 150 injured.
Considered the worst football-related incident in the history of Argentinian
football, the Puerta 12 Tragedy happened after a crowd of fans arrived at
the Boca section and forced their way in.
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