May 01, (THEWILL) – A football fan’s death at a packed Casablanca stadium during a CAF Champions League quarter-final tie has prompted calls for an investigation into the alleged failures that led to the tragedy.
The 29-year-old Raja Casablanca supporter died at a local hospital after fainting just before the match with Egypt’s Al Ahly. Video clips showed fans clashing with security guards as they tried to enter the venue, which was already filled beyond its capacity.
Karim Glaibi, a member of the stadium’s oversight committee, stated that an investigation should be launched to determine responsibility for the disaster. Glaibi revealed that the number of fans present exceeded the tickets issued, but he did not rule out ticket fraud.
The incident raised concerns about the persistent issue of overcrowding at the Casablanca stadium. Therefore, the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Public Funds has also called for a broad investigation into the chaos at the stadium.
Authorities are reportedly considering the construction of a new stadium outside the city as Morocco seeks to win a joint bid with Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
