Johannesburg – The South African womens football team is safe and sound in New Zealand after a shooting occurred earlier in the day in Auckland leaving three people dead, including the shooter and six others wounded.
FIFA said it had been informed that the shooting in which three people died was an isolated incident that was not related to football operations.
“The opening match tonight at Eden Park will proceed as planned,” FIFA said in a statement.
Just hours before the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup kick-off, the lone shooter opened fire in a busy street before fleeing into a building site in Auckland.
At least two people were shot dead before the shooter was cornered and fatally shot.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the showpiece match would go ahead as scheduled but the incident left teams rattled with at least one squad staying nearby.
New Zealand Football are shocked by the incident in Auckland this morning, local football authorities said, adding: We can confirm that all of the Football Ferns team and staff are safe.
The42 is reporting that Norways team hotel was close to where the shooting unfolded but they were unharmed and said everything is calm in the squad.
Captain Maren Mjelde said they were woken up by a helicopter and a large number of emergency vehicles.
South Africa’s team was not near the shooting, but the incident has created nervousness around security which has been beefed up.
Narrating events leading to the shooter’s death, police said they received a report of shots fired at 7:23 and officers were on the scene 11 minutes later.
Police officers found a gunman with a pump-action shotgun. He fired it as he made his way through the building.
When he got to the upper levels of the building, the gunman barricaded himself in an elevator shaft.
Police said the male shooter died in an exchange of gunfire and have since determined there was no threat to national security.
The football Womens World Cup is being hosted in Australia and New Zealand.
Authorities described the shooting as an “isolated incident” and assured that the World Cup will begin as scheduled on Thursday night.
The shooter has been identified as 24-year-old Matu Tangi Matua Reid, who was serving a home detention sentence at the time for domestic violence offences.
A South African professional, who recently moved with her family to New Zealand, told The Bulrushes that: “There was a heavy presence of armed officers and detouring of traffic away from roads leading to the crime scene.
“The incident happened at a construction site, which happens to be the new Deloitte building.
“Ferry, train and bus services had to be cancelled or rerouted as this happens to be where some of the major bus stops and stations are located.”
New Zealand takes on Norway and Australia will face the Republic of Ireland.
South Africa’s Banyana Banyana are in Group G alongside Sweden, Argentina, and Italy.
Banyanas first game at Wellington Regional Stadium is on Sunday against dark horses Sweden.
