BREAKING NEWS: Two dead in stampede at South Africa derby between Pirates and Chiefs - Video

Published on: 29 July 2017
BREAKING NEWS: Two dead in stampede at South Africa derby between Pirates and Chiefs - Video
HORROR: Two have died in a stampede at the AMB stadium in South Africa

Two supporters have died and several others were injured, some critically, during a stampede outside FNB Stadium in Soweto, where Kaizer Chiefs were playing Orlando Pirates.

The stampede at FNB Stadium in the South African capital of Johannesburg occurred at the start of the pre-season match on Saturday.

The game was allowed to continue as Kaizer Chiefs ran out 1-0 winners.

 It is unknown why the stampede happened but police did confirm the deaths as well as injuries happened at Gate-J during the match.

It comes 16 years after an almost identical incident happened at the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, where 43 supporters died during a match between the same two teams.

SA Football Association spokesperson Dominic Chimhavi confirmed the news with details trickling in.

Non-ticketholders were allegedly trying to gain access into the stadium after the game had already got underway and "overpowered security" to get in.

Police say scores of people became unruly before the start of the Soweto Soccer derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

The stadium, also known as Soccer City, is the biggest in South Africa and holds around 87,000.

Public safety official Michael Sun confirmed the fatalities on Twitter.

He added that all gates at the stadium had been opened and the situation was now under control.

Police earlier warned supporters without tickets not to come to the stadium.

Gauteng Traffic Police Spokesperson Obed Sibasa also said unruly behaviour would not be tolerated.

 The two sides are contesting the annual Carling Black Label Cup that heralds the start of the South African soccer season.

The stadium was rebuilt for the 2010 World Cup.

It hosted Spain's final victory over Netherlands and Uruguay's controversial win over Ghana, among others.

It also served as the venue for Nelson Mandela's first speech after his release from prison in 1990 and his memorial 23 years later.

Watch video of the updates from the match with two dead

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