JEDDAH, 10 December 2005 — One fan died and at least 25 others were injured, some of them seriously, after a handball match turned deadly at Prince Naif ibn Abdul Aziz Sports City in Qatif Thursday night. Fans of rival teams Al-Khaleej and Mudhir clashed after the match ended, resulting in the death of Usamah BoAli.
Six people were admitted to Qatif General Hospital and were treated for burns and bone fractures. Ahmed Al-Hakeem who was stabbed four times was in critical condition Friday night. “His condition has improved, and is currently stable,” a hospital spokesman told Arab News by telephone.
BoAli was pronounced dead on his way to hospital due to multiple stab wounds, added the spokesman.
The hostile events between the two rival fans sparked during the match, but security personnel managed to control the situation.
But according to an eyewitness the smaller group of Al-Khaleej fans, escorted out of a side entrance to the stadium that led to the parking lot, were ambushed by a group of Mudhir fans — armed with knives, sticks and stones — who had broken away from their main group that was exiting from the main gates of the stadium.
Due to the large number of Mudhir fans, the majority of security guards were located at their exits.
Al-Khaleej fans were ordered to retreat into the stadium and security officials locked stadium doors until re-enforcement arrived.
At least 30 cars were vandalized during the fight. The incident is being investigated and punitive action will be taken, senior police officials said.
This is not the first clash between the two rival fans. During last year’s season a similar incident took place that resulted in a number of injuries. No deaths were reported in that case.
