Young boy killed at soccer match

GORONTALO, North Sulawesi: An 11-year-old vendor died after being crushed by a wall which collapsed under the weight of spectators at a football match.

A crush of spectators attempting to buy tickets for the match had built up on the other side of the January 23 Stadium perimeter wall.

The young vendor was seated next to the wall selling ice cream and cigarettes when it gave way.

The Thursday evening game between Persidago Gorontalo and Persma Manado was an eagerly anticipated local derby match which an estimated 20,000 people had come to see.

People were clamoring to buy tickets at the entry booth on the other side of the wall. The wall gave way under the weight of the crowd and collapsed on the unsuspecting young vendor, who has not yet been identified.

Three spectators were also injured in the incident.

Antara yesterday quoted several spectators and officials as saying that the organizing committee caused the crush by delaying opening the stadium gates. They were attempting to raise the ticket price from Rp 1,000 to Rp 2,500 after seeing the large crowds who had turned up to see the match.