Twelve fans died in a stampede during South Africa's World Cup qualifier with Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday after police fired tear gas into the crowd.
Trouble erupted after Delron Buckley struck his second goal to virtually clinch the Group E points for South Africa and bottles were flung on the National Stadium pitch. Police appeared to overreact, firing numerous canisters of tear gas into the near-capacity 60,000 crowd, who raced to the exits while Zimbabwean and South African players lay face down on the pitch.
World governing body FIFA must decide what action to take after receiving a report from the commissioner and it is likely South Africa will be awarded the three points.
Zimbabwe may also be ordered to close the National Stadium for a certain period, forcing them to play other home qualifiers at another stadium in Harare or in the city of Bulawayo.
Viewers throughout Africa watched a live broadcast of the match and former Premiership striker John Fashanu said enemies of African football would be quick to make capital of events in Harare.
"Football is a passion, a carnival. There was no need for this. Those who oppose the development of African football will use footage from Harare to maximum advantage," he said.