At least one dead and dozens more injured after stampede outside Iraqi football stadium

One person was killed and dozens injured after a stampede broke out outside a football stadium in Iraq before the Gulf Cup final.

Thousands of fans gathered outside Iraq’s national football stadium in the southern city of Basra on Thursday, hours before the cup final was due to kick off at 7pm local time (1600 GMT).

Huge crowds had gathered since dawn in the hope of watching the rare home international match between Iraq and visitors Oman.

Medical officials and security sources confirmed the casualty and injuries.

‘There has been one death and dozens of slight injuries,’ a medic said. An interior ministry official gave the same toll.

Horrifying footage has since emerged on social media of the stampede at the front gates of the national stadium.

One video showed people sprawled across the road on top of one another following the incident.

Many screamed out for help as people were piled on top of one another.

The Arabian Gulf Cup is being hosted by Iraq for the first time since 1979. It is intended to help the country improve its image after decades of violence and political instability.