DOHA (AFP) – Hundreds of Indian fans launched celebrations after their team held World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar to a goalless draw in Doha in a preliminary qualifying match for the flagship tournament.
But some of the sparkle of India’s achievement Tuesday was lost following chaotic scenes as visiting fans struggled to enter the stadium.
There was jostling outside the South Stand around 10 minutes after kick-off when a crowd of several hundred Indian fans chanted and held up tickets while a phalanx of Qatari security held them back.
“What a shambles,” said a British football fan who was also unable to enter the ground “even with a ticket”.
“What a unique way to do it,” he said, noting that his group’s tickets had been issued without gate numbers.
Security officers had increasingly heated exchanges with fans stuck outside but able to clearly hear the drama unfolding inside.
Nearby, hundreds of others snaked around the car park. At half-time a surge of several hundred Indian fans attempted to bypass security and ticket control and rush through two of the stadium gates.
The automatic doors were closed and the situation was brought quickly under control.
