 | |
| Date | 19 January 2023 (2023-01-19) |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:00–14:00GMT |
| Location | Outside theBasra International Stadium[1] |
| Coordinates | 30°26′24″N47°46′47″E / 30.44000°N 47.77972°E /30.44000; 47.77972 (Basra International Stadium) |
| Deaths | 1[2] |
| Non-fatal injuries | 60+[2] |
On 19 January 2023, a stampede outside theBasra International Stadium in the Iraqi city ofBasra ahead of the25th Arabian Gulf Cup final betweenIraq andOman killed one person and injured up to 60 others. The families of those affected blamed inadequate crowd control and ticketless fans for the death and injuries.[3] The stadium security staff blamed ticketless fans.[3]
The final match of the25th Arabian Gulf Cup, between Iraq and Oman, was to be played at the Basra stadium. This was the first time that the tournament was being held in Iraq since1979. In a statement before the game, Iraq'sMinistry of Interior encouraged anyone who did not have tickets to the final to leave the area around the stadium. It stated that the stadium was completely full and that all gates had been closed.[citation needed]
On January 19, 2023, thousands[4] of fans without tickets waited outside Basra International Stadium since daybreak in the hopes of viewing the rare home international final, resulting in a crush as crowds attempted to enter the stadium. One person was killed and others were injured. Despite the crush, the Arabian Gulf Cup final match went ahead as planned,[5] and Iraq won the eight-nation event by defeating Oman 3–2 after extra time.[6]
