People injured in a fatal stadium stampede in the Ivory Coast gathered on its one-year anniversary Monday to commemorate the tragedy, but say they still haven't received compensation donated by FIFA.
Nearly 30 Christian and Muslim leaders led the ceremony outside Abidjan's Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium, where 22 people were killed and 130 injured on March 29, 2009, before a World Cup qualifier against Malawi.
Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) president Jacques Anouma laid a wreath at Gate 23, where the tragedy occurred.
"We've taken every precaution to see that this type of event will never happen again," Anouma said.
He also unveiled a plaque above the gate featuring the words "In memory of the victims of 29 March 2009".
After the ceremony, dozens of those injured _ as well as relatives of the dead _ protested that $93,000 donated by FIFA had not been redistributed by the Ivory Coast government.
"We've been promised compensation, but now it's been a year and we still don't know if, when and how much we'll receive," said Tairou Ouattara, a member of the parents of victims association.
FIFA fined the FIF $46,800 last July and donated money to support the families of victims.
Eric N'Dri said he had only received about $300 from the Ivorian National Team supporters club, which went toward his hospital bills. "I spent two days in hospital with injuries to my foot and knee after the crowd pushed me down a flight of stairs," N'Dri said. "The money for us is there _ I don't understand why we can't have it."
Pierre Douh of the Ministry of Sports said the risk of fraud had forced the government to delay payment. "Here in Ivory Coast, you've got every kind of association popping up whenever there's money to be had," he said.
"We're not paying anyone until we get a definitive list of victims _ and one that isn't doctored by these so-called victims associations."
Francois Akatia lost the use of his legs in the stampede. He followed the ceremony sitting in a wheelchair at Anouma's side.
"The President told me that he would personally see if he could push my case forward," Akatia said. "I haven't been able to work since, and I've got mouths to feed."
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