The deaths of more than 40 soccer fans in a stampede at Johannesburg's Ellis Park stadium on Wednesday night continue a spiral of turmoil at football matches throughout Africa in the past 12 months.
The deadly crush happened when thousands of ticketless fans tried to force their way into the huge stadium, which hosted the 1995 rugby World Cup final, to see the match between the country's most popular soccer teams, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Poor organisation has repeatedly been blamed for tragedies at the continent's soccer stadiums.
It is common practice for tickets to major matches to be sold only at the stadium on the night of the game, leading to large crushes as too many spectators turn up.
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13 people died at a World Cup qualifier in Harare In South Africa, crowds frequently try to break down barriers to get in once officials have closed the gates.
Last November, there were violent scenes as spectators tried to get into the final match of the African women's championship between South Africa and Nigeria at Vosloorus, outside Johannesburg,.
The game was abandoned after home supporters went on the rampage when Nigeria scored a disputed goal.
South Africa's men's team was involved in an incident in Zimbabwe in July that led to the death of 13 people at a World Cup qualifier at Harare's National stadium.
In that tragedy, South African players were pelted with objects as they celebrated a goal, which led to police firing teargas into the crowd and deaths from a stampede in the stands.
Teargas at matches in Nigeria is so common that it is rarely reported Only last month, a match at the African youth championship in Addis Ababa had to be halted when spectators rioted.
Ethiopian fans attacked players from Cameroon and Egypt, as well as officials and journalists, accusing the players of going for a draw to knock the host nation out of contention.
The firing of teargas at matches in Nigeria to clear crowds is so common that incidents are rarely reported.
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