Source: Daily_Mail
Toure urges World Cup tribute after 19 die at Ivory Coast qualifying tie
Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has urged his team-mates to give their all to reach the 2010 World Cup as a tribute to the fans who died on Sunday night during their qualifier victory over Malawi.
The tragedy, which left 19 dead and 132 injured, occurred when a wall collapsed at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan shortly before Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0 in a World Cup qualifying match.
The situation escalated as panic set in in with nearly 50,000 fans in and around the 35,000 capacity stadium.
Barcelona man Toure, who was not playing because of injury, said: "It's a very great tragedy. "We are all conscious that this is something very difficult and I want to send a message of solidarity.
"It's a very serious situation, very difficult for us and also for the world of football because it is not the first time that it has happened.
"After the game I spoke with Didier Drogba, my brother - Kolo Toure- and the coach. It's all very difficult because they are Ivory Coast supporters and we know them very well.
"Behind the victory was a tragedy. We have to go as far as we can in this competition for all the people who died."
Interior Minister Desire Tagro told state television: 'Fans started pushing to get in because the match was about to start and each and every one of them wanted to get in.'
Other reports suggested crowd trouble began up to 40 minutes before the game, with police firing tear gas to control the pushing and shoving.
Ollo Kambire, a reporter for Super Sport newspaper in the Ivory Coast, said: 'We saw people falling. Then there was panic and a stampede.'
Sports Minister Dagobert Banzio added: 'Numerous spectators started falling over each other. And in the crush they trampled on each other and that has led to 19 dead and 132 injured.'
The match still went ahead, with Ivory Coast taking a first-minute lead and going to win 5-0, with two goals from Drogba, one a penalty, and another from Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou.
Four other Premier League stars started the game - Kolo Toure, Didier Zokora, Emmanuel Eboue and Abdoulaye Meite.
