Archive for Egypt football fans

Egypt’s football Ultras march on presidential palace, demand justice for Port Said massacre

by admin
October 13th, 2012

Egypt football fans want justice before league resumed.

CAIRO: A few thousand Egyptian football fans, or Ultras, organized a march towards the presidential palace on Thursday night calling for President Mohamed Morsi to cancel the Egyptian league until the killing of 75 football fans in the city of Port Said earlier this year is resolved.

The Ahly football club fans have protested before, asking for a halting of matches, saying that the return of the national football league is “inappropriate” when justice has not been achieved for those killed in the violence.

A few days earlier, the sports ministry announced the return of the league on October 17, which raised the fan’s anger and saw them protest outside the ministry.

On February 1, at least 75 football fans were killed when riots broke out in the Port Said stadium between the visiting al-Ahly supporters and the host city’s fans.

Witnesses to the events in the Port Said violent attack said police and security personnel stood by and allowed the violence to spiral out of control, even locking fans inside and barring them from leaving the stadium.

Fans were thrown off the top level of the stadium, knifed and clubbed to death as video of security forces showed that they stood inside and failed to intervene in the violence.

BM

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Central African Republic stuns Egypt at home in CAN qualifier

by admin
June 17th, 2012

Egypt football fans were not present on Friday night for the match.

CAIRO: A goal from Mohamed Zidan in the 10th minute appeared to start the night off just where Egypt left their last match, but the Central African Republic stormed back to equalize only 15 minutes later en route to a stunning 3-2 victory over the Pharaohs in Cairo on Friday evening.

Egypt squandered an early lead in its home leg to face a stiff challenge in the second leg of the knockout tie in two weeks.

Egypt was in control when defender Salif Keita was sent off in the 35th after a second yellow card and Mohamed Salah restored the home team’s lead early in the second half.

The Central African country was not to be denied, even down a man, and they hit back in a seven-minute spell in the middle of the second.

Momi scored again after being left unmarked at the far post, and David Manga grabbed the winner in the 69th from just inside the area.

It ended Egypt’s 13-match unbeaten run in 2012 and slowed its recent upsurge under former US national team coach Bob Bradley after the 7-time African champions surprisingly missing out on this year’s African Cup of Nations.

It was just Egypt’s second international at home since a riot at a league game in Port Said in February left at least 75 people dead.

The first-leg game was suspended from February after those riots in Port Said and was also brought forward from the weekend so as not to clash with the presidential election runoff.

BM

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Egypt African Cup match in doubt over security

by admin
June 8th, 2012

Egypt football fans.

CAIRO: Egyptian authorities are refusing to provide security for an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic slated for June 17 in the country.

The country’s Football Association has asked the Confederation of African Football to postpone the match for 48 hours in order to avoid playing the match as Egyptians head to the polls to vote in a presidential run-off, set for the same day.

Egypt has played only one home match this year, and the domestic league was canceled after fans in Port Said attacked the opposing team’s supporters in February, which left at least 75 people dead.

Security present at that match remained still, allowing the violence to escalate, leaving the country shocked at the violence.

The team’s administrative manager Amr Abu el-Ezz says the continental body has not yet replied to the request.

The ruling military junta has refused to provide security for the national team’s matches in the country, despite the widespread criticism that followed the Port Said incident.

Egypt won its initial World Cup qualifier against Mozambique 2-0 last weekend.

BM

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Categories Egypt Sport
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