World Cup Excitement Starts W/Stampede

In what's called a 'friendly' or warm-up match, World Cup soccer kicked off with a stampede.  If this is any indication of the excitement to follow when 'unfriendly' play starts; Look Out! 

No one was killed in the melee.  A few minor and one serious injury, though.  The stampede was a result of building excitement for free entertainement.  10,000 free tickets were available to the warm-up match at a smaller venue in a slum near Johannesburg. 

"This is like an alarm clock," FIFA president Sepp Blatter said. "This will not happen in any match of the World Cup - you can be assured."

FIFA assures no stampedes?  This will be interesting to watch.  I heard they are doing their best to only allow ticketed fans near stadiums.  This is good.  It'll be enforced with clubs, I'm sure.  But, try holding any rumors back from the thousands camped nearby who have nothing better to do. 

Soccer fans have a reputation - and, it seems to be one many fans like to uphold.  Let's look at results of a few soccer stampedes in Africa alone.

2009 - 22 died at a match in Ivory Coast

2001 - 123 died at a match in Ghana

1991 - 43 died at a match in Orkney, South Africa

It seems like organizers have things buttoned down for World Cup events this year.  However, this weekend's pre-party stampede is just enough to make this non-fan interested in keeping an eye on things.

Here's video of a few soccer riots to wet your appetite: