Proper control of soccer fans vital

THE violence that unfolded at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday following the Nedbank Cup semifinal tie must be condemned in the strongest terms.

Chaos erupted after angry soccer fans invaded the pitch following Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-0 loss to Free State Stars, sending Chiefs out of the cup.

Unruly fans stormed the field, flinging chairs about, damaging equipment and beating up security officials, forcing police to use teargas and stun grenades.

One security guard was injured and it is a wonder no one was killed.

With last year’s fatal FNB Stadium stampede still fresh in our minds, another vile incident has marred what is supposed to be the “Beautiful Game” of soccer.

It is lamentable enough that the long-awaited ministerial committee of inquiry into last year’s tragedy, which saw two people die during the match between Orlando Pirates and Chiefs, has been withdrawn.

Worse is that the inquiry was abandoned due to active opposition and a lack of cooperation by “the affected stakeholders”, according to the Department of Sport and Recreation, though there is still hope an alternative path to justice will be found.

Let us also not forget the dreadful 2015 incident that played out in our own city, when a Cape Town soccer fan was accidentally shot dead following an Absa Premiership match between Chiefs and Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

In that case, thousands of jubilant Chiefs supporters had rushed onto the pitch to celebrate their team’s win, with pandemonium ensuing.

The Premier Soccer League and the managers of Durban’s stadium have much to answer for – it is unacceptable that the supporters in question managed to storm the grounds and endanger lives. But other stadiums including our own have shown they too are fallible to such actions.

This weekend’s hooliganism must be thoroughly investigated to ensure all potential future disruptions are immediately nipped in the bud. Violence is no solution for fans’ frustrations, neither should celebrations be allowed to get out of hand as they did in the Bay.

It is vital security staff are fully prepared and adequately trained for all scenarios.