Farah Pahlavi's Message on the Sari Football Tragedy
May 8, 2001
TEHRAN, May 7 (AFP) - Another Iranian football spectator died Monday, raising the death
toll to two after stands in an overcrowded football stadium in northern Iran collapsed
injuring close to 300 people, state radio said.
Mohammad Jafar Kambouzia, deputy head of the national physical education organisation,
said earlier that five people were in serious condition in intensive care, and 106 others
still in hospital.
A total of 287 people were injured in the collapse Sunday during a bad-tempered cup-tie
featuring one of the nation's most popular teams and a rival first division club.
An estimated 25,000-30,000 people were crammed into the 15,000-capacity Mottaqi stadium in
the city of Sari when the northwest stand fell apart during the match between Pirouzi, who
have a nationwide following, and Shamushak.
The injured were treated in at least four hospitals, and officials said some patients were
sent home Sunday night. Further injured are expected to be released later on Monday.