Soccer-Chaos at Al Bidda fan fest before World Cup opener

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group A - Qatar v Ecuador - FIFA Fan Festival - Al Bidda Park, Doha, Qatar - November 20, 2022 Fans jump over barriers at the fan festival REUTERS/Carl Recine

DOHA (Reuters) -Chaotic scenes broke out inside and outside the fan festival at Al Bidda Park in Doha on Sunday an hour before the kick off of the opening World Cup match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador after organisers allowed too many fans to flood the precinct.

The venue has a capacity of 40,000 but at least double that number of people tried to make their way in and for a long time many were let into a holding area between the main festival park and the perimeter entrance.