The Dispatch and Business Day newspapers quoted South African Broadcasting Corporation television as saying too many tickets had been sold for the game. It would not have happened if the tickets had been pre-sold, they said. Even when all the tickets had been sold radio reports failed to warn supporters not to make the journey. Ellis Park can accommodate around 65,000 people, whereas FNB stadium, which is Orlando Pirates' home ground near Soweto, and hosts most soccer internationals, has room for more than 80,000. The security guards were also blamed for their handling of the situation.
Some reports say tear gas was used in an effort to push back fans, but the police deny it was fired.
He said clearer details would be revealed after a meeting of the various groups. Wolf Event Management officials at the stadium would not comment. The match was only called off 33 minutes into the game after the Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Robin Petersen alerted the referee. An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.