Spurs' fear as crowd threatens to kill Kanoute
Tottenham are still trying to make contact with striker Fredi Kanoute after Mali fans threatened to kill him when their pitch invasion ended a World Cup qualifier against Togo in Bamako.
Mali were a goal up until the 83rd minute when Togo scored two quick goals that looked certain to win the match for them – until some of the 70,000 crowd rioted and stormed on to the pitch demanding: “Give us Frederic Kanoute and Mamadou Bayoko. We are going to kill them.”
A Spurs official said today he had tried to telephone their former West Ham and Lyon striker but had only the response of an answer-machine and was not quite clear when Kanoute was due to return to England.
“Naturally there is a lot of concern over the press reports but we are trying to contact Fredi to ascertain his situation as soon as possible,” said the spokesman.
Bamako was said to be in a state of turmoil after residents joined football fans in looting and destruction after the match.
Police used tear gas as rioters tried to ransack the offices of the Mali Football Federation and burned down the building which contains the Mali Olympic Committee.
Last year, Kanoute caused disruption at White Hart Lane by informing the club he was going to play for Mali in the African Nations Cup in the middle of the Premiership season despite his previous international connections with France.
Kanoute, aged 27, claimed qualification for Mali through his parents and has become the team’s leading player.
