Nyayo Stadium’s “sold-out” claim sparks capacity and safety concerns
The Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) conflicting statements regarding the “sold-out” status of Nyayo National Stadium during the Kenya vs. Gabon World Cup qualifier have ignited a fierce debate.
Initial reports of a 22,000-ticket sell-out, later retracted, have raised serious questions about stadium capacity and safety regulations.
FKF President Hussein Mohammed clarified that only 15,968 regular tickets out of 18,000 were sold, alongside 1,131 VIP and 107 VVIP tickets.
Despite this, the stadium appeared packed, with many spectators without tickets present. Security breaches allowed unauthorized entry, leading to the perceived “sold-out” scenario.
What constitutes a “sold-out” stadium, and how does it align with Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations? CAF guidelines, outlined in Chapter Four, Article 15 of the Safety and Security Regulations, stipulate that ticket sales must not exceed the stadium’s maximum safe capacity.
This “maximum safe capacity” is determined by four critical parameters: holding capacity (usable seats), entry capacity (turnstile throughput), exit capacity (evacuation speed), and emergency evacuation capacity (safe area access). The lowest of these figures dictates the stadium’s safe capacity.
While Nyayo National Stadium’s official safe capacity remains undefined, the ticket sales data suggests a range of 15,000 to 18,000. This discrepancy explains FKF’s revised statement, aiming to align with CAF’s safety standards.
Exceeding a stadium’s safe capacity poses severe risks. Overcrowding can lead to accidents, crowd crushes, and hindered evacuations.
CAF imposes fines and sanctions for violations, as seen with the Zambian Football Association’s $20,000 fine.
Persistent non-compliance can result in CAF deeming a stadium unfit for international matches, forcing teams to play elsewhere. Legal liabilities also arise from overcrowding-related incidents.
Adhering to CAF’s safety regulations is crucial. Stadium management and event organizers must ensure ticket sales stay within the established safe capacity to prevent these repercussions.
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Nyayo Stadium’s “sold-out” claim sparks capacity and safety concerns
