(Reuters) - South African police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of workers protesting over pay in the early hours of Monday outside the stadium where Germany had just trounced Australia in their World Cup opener.
Riot police sporting body armor, helmets and guns chased stewards who had earlier been responsible for the security of 62,660 fans from the new Moses Mabhida stadium.
One woman was hit by a rubber bullet. She lay outside the stadium for nearly an hour before an ambulance took her away.
"We were mounting a peaceful protest because they were not paying us what we expected and we were surprised that the police started charging at us. They fired teargas at us," said one of the workers, Sydney Nzoli.
Police blasted teargas as the disgruntled staff, bricks and rocks in hand, rampaged down a Durban highway. Scores of police corralled the protesters before the reached the city center. After a tense standoff, the workers dispersed.
A policeman fires tear gas at protesters near the Moses Mabhida World Cup stadium after a protest in Durban, South Africa early Monday, June 14, 2010. Armed riot police charged into hundreds of security stewards at the World Cup stadium in the wake of Sunday's match to break up a protest about low wages. Authorities held several hundred workers near after the protest but eventually freed them. The incident occurred after Germany beat Australia 4-0 in their opening Group D match.
A policeman stands over detained protesters in front of the Moses Mabhida World Cup stadium after a protest in Durban, South Africa early Monday, June 14, 2010.
Several hundred security personal who worked at the Moses Mabhida stadium during the soccer world cup match between Germany and Australia walk away after being held by police in Durban June 14, 2010. Riot police armed with shotguns and riot shields chased the workers, who were deployed as stewards in the ground and were protesting over wages, out of the stadium where Germany had earlier beaten Australia 4-0 in their opening World Cup game.
