National News
Tensions high at Soccer City
2010-06-27 21:46
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Johannesburg - Police were battling to clear jubilant Argentina fans out of fire escapes and escape passages at Soccer City on Sunday night.
Thousands of Argentina supporters packed into the stadium for their team's top 16 game against Mexico. Some fans were prepared to part with as much as $200 (about R1 530) a ticket from scalpers outside the stadium.
The supporters however, chose to sit in groups and annexed entire sections of category one seats, despite their pre assigned seat numbers.
"Crowd control is a bloody difficult job," a police officer said as he escorted a South African man to his seat.
"These guys must understand that the rules here are different to Argentina.
"The police will let them get away with it there, but not here."
Tempers flared as fans who had paid more than R1 000 a ticket found their seats occupied.
"Come, let's talk in the corridor," one man screamed, only to have an Argentinean fan blow a whistle in his face.
Argentina led Mexico 2-0 by half time.