Brazil Closes Big Soccer Stadium After Mishap
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - The government closed the world's largest soccer stadium today, a week after two fans were killed and about 80 injured when a retaining fence collapsed.
Maracana stadium was shut down for "repairs and improvements," announced officials of Rio de Janeiro state.
The accident took place July 19, when a crowd of more than 150,000 packed the stadium for the national championship final.
A fence on the second level of the grandstand gave way, and scores of fans fell about 25 feet into a section of seats.
Engineers blamed errors in construction and poor upkeep.