Zamalek Stadium disaster
1974 crowd crush in Cairo, Egypt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A crowd crush occurred on 17 February 1974 when fans were crushed before the kick-off of a football friendly match at the Zamalek Stadium in Cairo between Zamalek of Egypt and Dukla Prague of Czechoslovakia.[1]
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| Date | 17 February 1974 |
|---|---|
| Location | Zamalek Stadium, Cairo, Egypt |
| Coordinates | 30°3′31″N 31°12′13″E |
| Cause | Crowd crush |
| Deaths | at least 48 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 50 |
The total death toll is reported variously as 48,[1] 49,[2][3] or 50;[4] 50 more were injured during this event.[2]
Following a change of venue for the match, many supporters thought they would not be able to enter the newly chosen stadium (because the previously intended venue, Nasser Stadium, was much larger).[2] There was a stampede,[1][5] the walls crumbled,[4] and many people were left dead. According to reports, up to 80,000 people tried to access the stadium, despite the capacity at the time being just 40,000.[6] It was the first football disaster in Egypt.[7]
