Iran launches investigation into stadium collapse

Iranian soccer officials began an investigation today into the collapse of a roof at an overcrowded stadium that left at least two fans dead and hundreds injured.

The fiberglass roof of the Mottaqi Stadium grandstand in Sari, 250 km northeast of Tehran, collapsed under the weight of cheering fans during a soccer match last afternoon.

The game attracted nearly twice as many spectators as the structure could accommodate, a regional official said.

Two people died and a third was in critical condition at a local hospital, Asghar Samarbakhsh, deputy sports director for Mazandaran province, said.

Abdullah Madani, head of the Mazandaran Medical Science University, told the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that both deaths were from head injuries. Madani said out of 290 people who were injured, 182 had been treated and released and 108 remained hospitalised in "satisfactory" condition.

Samarbakhsh blamed local police for the disaster. He said 25,000 people had been allowed into the stadium meant to accommodate 15,000 spectators.

"The police are to blame for not preventing people without tickets from entering the stadium. All those who were on the roof had come into the stadium without tickets," Samarbakhsh said. Police officials have refused to comment.