FIFA asks for details on Ivory Coast football disaster

Zurich, March 30 (DPA) Football's ruling body FIFA asked Monday for a full report from the football federation of the Ivory Coast after 22 people died Sunday when a wall collapsed during a World Cup qualifying match between Ivory Coast and Malawi.

Tens of thousands of fans were packed into the Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan, the West African Nation's largest city, to watch Chelsea star and national hero Didier Drogba score twice in a 5-0 rout of Malawi.

However, tragedy struck when fans appear to have panicked following the collapse of a wall.

'On behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of football, I wish to express extreme sorrow and extend our condolences to the Ivorian football community and, most importantly, to family, friends and loved ones following the tragic deaths in Abidjan,' said FIFA president Joseph Blatter.