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FIFA distances World Cup from friendly match crowd stampede

FIFA and the organising committee for this year's World Cup have said they were not involved in the warm-up match between Nigeria and North Korea in which a crowd stampede left several people injured.

Confusion about the conditions of access to the match, and the handing out of 10,000 tickets outside the stadium, led to a crowd of fans trying to force their way in.

“FIFA and the OC would like to reiterate that this friendly match has no relation whatsoever with the operational organisation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, for which we remain fully confident,” said football's governing body and the local OC in a joint statement.

The South African police said the match was arranged by a private company.