The worst disaster in South African sporting history will not necessarily affect the country's chances of hosting the 2010 World Cup. FIFA director of communications Keith Cooper admitted serious lessons had to be learned from the tragedy after 47 fans were killed in a stampede at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
Disaster struck when supporters without tickets tried to gain entry to the Kaiser Chiefs' crunch match with the Orlando Pirates. Fans were crushed to death both inside and outside the stadium, with two of the fatalities being children.
But Cooper told BBC Radio Five Live: “I don't think we should rush to condemn South Africa just because it's South Africa."
Cooper said that because of FIFA's decision to rotate the World Cup on a continental basis - more than likely starting in 2010 with Africa - the bidding process would begin much sooner than would normally be expected.
“FIFA made the decision that the World Cup would first go to the continent of Africa - not necessarily South Africa - but we are along way away from deciding this,” Cooper added. “This is a tragedy of considerable proportions, four dozen people have been killed and it's being taken extremely seriously, but as far as 2010 is concerned it is still along time away.” (PA)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
