Blatter pledges no repeat of stampede

FIFA president says it was a 'wake-up call' and 'will not happen' again

JOHANNESBURG - FIFA president Sepp Blatter described the fans' stampede during a Nigeria-North Korea friendly as a "wake-up call" but promised there would be no repeat at the World Cup, which kicks off on Friday.

"I'm sure that this is a wake-up call and this will not happen in any match, you can be assured," the head of soccer's governing body told a news conference on Monday following Sunday's incidents in which at least 15 were injured.