Football fans throng the stadiums to witness their favorite team play. However, history has shown that such big matches could turn disastrous - the latest being the Egypt football violence that took away 74 precious lives.
Here are the worst ever football tragedies so far.
February 2012: Egypt
What was supposed to be a good time turned bad at a football match in Egypt on Wednesday (February 1). 74 people were killed and at least 1000 were injured when fans clashed after local team al-Masry beat visitors from Cairo, Al Ahli, Egypt's most successful club.
March 2009: Ivory Coast
At least 19 people died during a stampede at Abidjan's Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium. The tragedy took place during a World Cup soccer qualifying match between Ivory Coast and Malawi.
May 2001: Ghana
A stampede occurred during a football match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Assante Kotoko cost the lives of 126 people. Police fired teargas at rioting fans, causing the stampede.
April 2001: South Africa
A stampede that occurred at the Ellis Park Stadium killed 43 people and many injured. It was reported that about 120,000 fans thronged the 60,000 capacity crowd stadium, where the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were scheduled to play.
April 2001: Democratic Republic of Congo
A stampede during a match between Lupopo and Mazembe at Lubumbashi in Democratic Republic of Congo killed 14 people.
October 1996: Guatemala
Football fans stumbled down seats at a World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Costa Rica in Guatemala City, killing 82 people and injuring 147.
May 1992: France
18 people died and about 2,400 were injured when a stand of the Furiani stadium collapsed. The incident happened just before the start of a French Cup game between Bastia and Olympique Marseille in Corsica.
January 1991: South Africa
Tragedy happened during a football match between the Kaizer Chiefs and the Orlando Pirates in the mining town of Orkney. 42 people died in a stampede accident.
April 1989: Britain
The Hillsborough stadium disaster is one of the worst international football accidents. The English F.A. Cup semifinal match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was abandoned six minutes into the game after a crowd crushed football fans, killing 96 people and injuring over 200.
March 1988: Nepal
At least 93 football fans died in a stampede during a match between Nepal and Bangladesh. About 30,000 fans at the National Stadium rushed towards the exit following sudden hailstorm, thus causing the tragedy.
May 1985: Britain
Fire broke out at the Bradford City stadium during a football match between Bradford City and Lincoln City. 56 people were died and over 200 injured in the tragedy.
May 1985: Belgium
Riot broke out before the European Cup Final between Italy's Juventus and English club Liverpool at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels. 39 fans died in the tragedy.
October 1982: Russia
Football fans were crushed as the left UEFA Cup match between Moscow Spartak and HFC Haarlem at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. The former Soviet Union didn't disclose the tragedy for years. They later declared that 66 people were killed but the death toll is believed to be way beyond that.
January 1971: Scotland
Tragedy occurred during a match between the Celtic and Rangers at Ibrox Stadium. Rangers fans starting leaving the stadium when Celtic scored a goal with a minute to go. Rangers scored an equalizer but disaster happened with so many people leaving at a time. 66 people died and 140 injured in the incident.
June 1968: Buenos Aires
Tragedy occurred after a match between River Plate and Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires. Football fans headed towards a closed exit and crushed 150 people to death against the door.
May 1964: Lima
The 1964 Lima football riot killed 318 people and injured hundreds. The incident happened during an Olympic qualifying match between Argentina and Peru in Lima at the National Stadium. Argentina was on the course of winning the match by a goal when Peru's Bertolotti Andrés sent the ball into the net. However, it was annulled. This led to the riot.
March 1946: Britain
Tragedy hit the FA Cup match between Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City when a wall collapsed at Burden Park stadium. 33 people were killed and over 400 injured by the crush and a stampede caused by it.
