Radebe sorrow at tragedy

Radebe saw a similar tragedy when playing for Kaizer Chiefs

Leeds United's South African international Lucas Radebe has spoken of his sadness at the death of at least 50 spectators in a stampede at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Radebe revealed he had seen similar tragic scenes when he played for Kaizer Chiefs.

The South Africa captain, 32, told BBC Five Live: "When people lose lives like that at a football game it is really, really sad.

"What happened was absolutely a disaster for all the families of all those people who died - a tragedy.

"I spoke to a couple of players and they could not believe what was happening."

What happened was absolutely a disaster - a tragedy

  Lucas Radebe

The game between South Africa's biggest clubs - Kaizer and Orlando Pirates - was a 68,000 sell-out.

But hundreds of other supporters with tickets were reportedly locked out, and when they tried to get into an already full stadium, disaster struck.

"When Kaizer play Orlando Pirates, there is more than 100,000 people who want to come to watch the games," said Radebe.

"Football has grown since we were re-admitted to international football, and when games like this come up everybody wants to go.

"Everything has to be perfect. Things like this have been avoided at all costs."

Radebe, who was born in Johhanesburg, added: "Things like this have happened before.

"When I played one of the games against Orlando Pirates a similar thing happened and about 25 people died that day.

"That was about seven or eight years ago. It might have been even 10 years ago."

Radebe in action for South Africa

South Africa failed in a bid to host the 2006 World Cup and now hope to attract the event in 2010.

Radebe believes safety will improve at South African stadia as a result of the Ellis Park tragedy.

"Things like this do happen and you do learn from them, especially in a country which always tries to get better. Things will improve.

"This highlights some of the problems and hopefully things like this will never happen now.

"It is when these things happen that you must ask the questions."

"I'm a footballer and I've been in that situation before. To lose the lives of supporters, especially those with young families, is a terrible thing to happen. It's very, very bad."