7 injured as Beckham fans storm police cordon in Shanghai

PanARMENIAN.Net - Fans eager to see football superstar David Beckham have stormed a police cordon in a stampede at a Shanghai university that injured seven people including five security personnel.

Three police officers, two university security guards and two students - including a Japanese student - were injured on Thursday, June 20, Shanghai police said on its official microblog, according to The Associated Press.

Nearly 1000 fans had gathered at a stadium in Shanghai Tongji University, where the retired star was to meet members of the university team, the state-run news site Xinmin Net reported.

Upon Beckham's arrival, fans stormed through a gate and broke through a line formed by police and guards, Xinmin said.

Photos and video footage show people pushed onto the ground, shoes scattered and a uniformed woman being carried away - her face covered in blood.

"Too crazy," said Chu Dan, a Tongji University football player who was hoping to have "some interaction on the pitch" with Beckham. "But we didn't expect so many people showing up here - too many fans of Beckham."

The event was cancelled, and Shanghai police said they were investigating the incident.

A post on Beckham's microblog on the popular Chinese-language platform Sina Weibo wishes the injured speedy recoveries and expresses regret for the cancellation. "It was impossible to get through the massive crowds," it reads.

Beckham is in China this week on a seven-day promotional tour for the Chinese Super League, China's top league. He has been hired as an "image ambassador" to promote the sport.