Johannesburg--A football supporter died in a scuffle with a policeman Saturday, marring the final round of South African Premiership matches in which famed Durban club AmaZulu were relegated.
The death occurred in southern city Port Elizabeth during a post-match pitch invasion after champions Kaizer Chiefs completed the season with a 2-0 victory at lowly Chippa United.
As spectators poured on to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium pitch to celebrate a title success clinched 17 days ago, one of them reportedly tried to grab the gun of a police officer.
In the ensuing scuffle, the gun of the officer accidentally went off, fatally wounding the supporter, a police spokesman said.
"A man tried to take the gun of a police officer and it went off during the scuffle, fatally wounding him," spokesman Johan Rheeder told reporters.
A Premiership official later confirmed the death.
Chiefs triumphed through first-half goals from Mandla Masango and Zimbabwean Willard Katsande before a sell-out 45,000 crowd.
AmaZulu, formed in 1932 and among the oldest South African football clubs, lost 2-1 at home to Maritzburg United and finished bottom of the 16-club standings.
A win would have guaranteed survival for a club who hosted Manchester United in a friendly three years ago.
But after equalising 17 minutes from time in Indian Ocean city Durban, they were beaten by a late Mohau Mokate goal.
Victory meant Maritzburg came eighth -- a position that carries greater significance in South Africa than other African leagues.
The top-eight finishers qualify for an early-season knockout competition offering a winners-take-all eight million rand ($670,000, 600,000 euros) prize.
AFP
