Six killed, 40 injured in Iran-Japan football match

Iran fans wave their national flag at Tehran's Azadi stadium. Five people were trampled to death and 40 injured in a crush of spectators after the World Cup qualifier between Iran and Japan, and another person died of an apparent heart attack brought on by the nail-biting clash, press reports said.

Five people were trampled to death and 40 injured in a crush of spectators after Friday evening's World Cup qualifier between Iran and Japan, and another person died of an apparent heart attack brought on by the nail-biting clash, press reports said.

The injured people have been admitted to three hospitals, IRNA quoted Tehran's Emergency Center as saying. Also injured during the match was a Japanese woman, who suffered slight facial wounds from a firecracker.

The crush occurred immediately after Friday evening's match, which Iran won 2-1, when an estimated 100,000 spectators flooded out of the packed downtown Azadi stadium.

Iranian media said those killed had attempted to use an unauthorised exit, and added that stadium management and national sporting officials have ordered an investigation.

The sixth death, reported by ISNA, was caused by a man who was overwhelmed by "too much excitement" -- probably a heart attack.

Official also reported that 86 buses were damaged in post-match crowd violence, although no arrests were reported.