Riot police were called in to deal with crowd chaos at the World Cup 2022 fan zone ahead of the first game between Qatar and Ecuador. Fans claim they were crushed on route to Doha's FIFA fan festival prior to the opener of the tournament, reports the Mirror.
Thousands of fans descended upon the central Doha event, queuing up outside keen to see the match on the big screens at the FIFA fan festival. However, the joyous scenes for the opening game soon turned ugly, with fans pushing and shoving against police lines to try and enter a secure area.
Helmeted officers armed with batons and shields stood guard at the entrance. Pushing and shoving broke out as crushed fans pleaded to enter the zone. Hatem El-Berarri, who was working nearby, says a panic broke out from the crowd amid chaotic scenes.
