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The death of a 29-year old football fan on Saturday evening due to a stampede near the Mohammed V complex in Casablanca has ignited backlash and protests over the inadequate planning and management of sports events.
A statement from local authorities said that the woman was a fan of the Raja Casablanca football club (RCA).
Authorities opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of the case.
RCA played its second leg match against Egyptian club Al Ahly as part of the CAF Champions League last night. The game ended with a 0-0 result, with Al Ahly going through to the semi-finals on aggregate.
The incidents on the sidelines of the game have been marred by chaos and disorganization, triggering complaints and frustration among citizens and football fans.
Since the match, many viral videos and pictures documented chaotic scenes of people pushing each other, leading to stampedes and the death of the 29-year old woman.
One of the videos shows fans of Raja Casablanca storming the Mohamed V Stadium and pushing together in very crowded spaces prior to the match.
Since Saturday, fans have complained about the lack of preparedness, citing a failure to manage fans and their entry to the stadium.
Fans and citizens have also called for authorities to hold those responsible accountable for the mismanagement of the game.
Many have mourned the death of the football fan, including Casablanca clubs Raja and Wydad as well as Egyptian clubs like Al Ahly and Zamalek.
Both Egyptian clubs published statements on their social media accounts, mourning the death of the victim and extending their condolences to her family.
