Johannesburg - Ten people were hurt in a stampede at a soccer friendly between Nigeria and North Korea on Sunday, police said, four days ahead of the World Cup kick-off.

"Nine civilians and a policeman were injured during the match. The incident happened at the gate," a police spokesperson told AFP at Makhulong stadium in Thembisa, east of Johannesburg.

However, the national joint operational centre said the stampede took place before the match.

"There was a stampede that occurred before the game... There might have been a communication breakdown... people thought they were told they were supposed to pay... they pushed to get into the stadium... they wanted to see their heroes..." said the centre's spokesperson, Colonel Hangwani Mulaudzi.

"The situation is now under control. The game is playing. It is an unfortunate situation," he added.

The 10, 000 seat stadium was around two-thirds full, an AFP correspondent attending the game said.

The match was stopped in the second half for about 20 minutes, but no explanation was given to the fans for the delay.

In March last year in Abidjan a stampede killed 19 football fans during a World Cup qualifying match between Ivory Coast and Malawi.