Reports are emerging that a significant number of ticket-holding fans were denied entry to the FNB Stadium, while others ticket were not even scanned for the highly-anticipated Soweto Derby on February 1st. Eyewitnesses claim that the stadium, which has a capacity of 94 736, was severely overcrowded, with estimates suggesting that nearly 120,000 people were inside the venue.
Allegations of lax security measures have also surfaced, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of spectators. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Soweto Derby, one of the most fiercely contested rivalries in African football, drew massive crowds, but it appears that the demand for tickets far exceeded the stadium’s capacity. The consequences of this oversight could have been disastrous, and it is fortunate that no major incidents were reported.
Minister of Sports, art and culture, Gayton McKenzie comment on the situation, “I was part of meeting where we decided to close the gates because the stadium reached full capacity. We feared a stampede, we are meeting next week to get a better understanding of how this even happened when people like yourself had tickets but couldn’t get in, I’m equally curious, apologies”.
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