World Cup organisers apologise to fans caught up in pre-England match crushes as steps are announced to ease fans’ stadium woes
World Cup organizers apologize to fans caught up in the pre-England match as steps are announced to ease fans’ stadium woes
World Cup organizers have apologized to fans caught up in the chaotic scenes outside the Stade Velodrome ahead of England’s match against Argentina on Saturday evening.
Thousands of ticket holders missed the start of the Pool D opener due to the limited number of entry points and turnstiles, insufficient staffing and extensive security checks.
The weight of the numbers led to crushes outside the ground and although France 2023 announced there were no incidents and all 63,118 seats were eventually filled, many supporters were concerned for their safety amid the possibility of the situation escalating.
“Fans are the heartbeat of the tournament and we would like to apologize to fans affected by yesterday’s access issues,” a statement said.
“We are working hard to improve the experience for everyone visiting Marseille for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.”
Organizers have stated that there will now be more service volunteers to assist with entry, as well as more announcements on public transport, including in English.
Other measures are also being taken to ensure there is no repeat of the scenes that took place before England defeated Argentina 27-10 in the opening match of Pool D, which was played in hot and humid Marseille.
Although the crowd was well behaved and the atmosphere was respectful, many supporters feared the consequences if clashes intensified.
“As we left the station at the stadium there was an overwhelming number of people as there are only two entry points,” said England supporter Tim Chamberlain, who was attending his fifth World Cup.
Thousands of fans were stuck outside Stade Velodrome ahead of England’s match against Argentina
“It felt like there just weren’t enough turnstiles and not enough people working. We stood in battle for 45 minutes and it was very hot.
“When we came in you could see it was potentially dangerous and there would be crowds coming in every now and then, which was worrying, but people were generally quite respectful.”
The Stade Velodrome was due to host Scotland’s Pool B tournament opener against reigning world champions South Africa on Sunday. The match was scheduled to start at 4:45 p.m.