Policeman badly hurt in fans' stampede
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}By Mark Gleeson and Javier Leira
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A stampede by fans during a pre-World Cup match at the Makhulong Stadium between Nigeria and North Korea Sunday left 14 slightly hurt and one policeman in a serious condition, police said.
The match was stopped for around five minutes early in the second half because of the injuries and safety of the fans in the overcrowded main stand where the fencing had been removed.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"There are 14 people slightly injured and one policeman seriously injured," South African police official Eugene Opperran said.
He said the stampede started when too many fans had obtained free tickets for the match and stormed the entrance to the stadium.
Hundreds of mostly Nigerian fans pushed the gate on to the police officer in their effort to enter the 10,000-seater stadium to watch the match between the two World Cup participants.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"He was crushed by the gates as people stormed them, trying to get in," another police official at the scene told Reuters.
He said many of the fans had what appeared to be just photocopies of the tickets.
Among those injured were two children, according to a Reuters witness.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Some 500 fans remained in the area around the stadium for some time after the stampede before dispersing peacefully.
Nigeria won the match 3-1.
Inside the stadium there were still many empty seats as the match was not sold out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The tournament kicks off Friday, June 11.
(Writing by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by Jon Bramley)