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Egypt football match violence: dozens dead and hundreds injured
At least 73 people have died after clashes broke out at game in Port Said between local club Al-Masry and Cairo side Al-Ahly
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Abdel-Rahman Hussein in Cairo
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 February 2012 21.08 GMT
Article history
Dozens dead in Egypt football clashes. Link to this video
At least 73 people have died and hundreds are injured after violent clashes broke out at a football match in Port Said between Cairo club Al-Ahly and local club Al-Masry, government officials said.
The violence flared after Al-Ahly, one of Egypt's most successful teams, were beaten 3-1. Television footage showed players running from the pitch chased by fans while a small group of riot police tried to protect the players, but they appeared overwhelmed and fans attacked the players as they fled. Fans of both teams clashed and stormed the pitch and dressing rooms. The deputy health minister, Hesham Sheiha, called it "the biggest disaster in Egypt's soccer history".
"This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us. There is no movement and no security and no ambulances," Al-Ahly player Mohamed Aboutrika told his club's television channel. "I call for the league to be cancelled. This is a horrible situation and today can never be forgotten."
Egypt's Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the country's ruling military council, ordered two helicopters be sent to Port Said, the scene of violent soccer clashes, to fly out some of the visiting Al-Ahly soccer team and its fans, military sources said. The helicopters will transfer the injured to military hospitals, the sources said.
State television reported that the Egyptian Premier League would be postponed indefinitely and parliament is to hold a special session on Thursday regarding football violence.
Fans congregated outside Al-Ahly's ground in the Cairo neighbourhood of Zamalek, some in tears as they awaited news of families and friends who had attended the match. They were joined by fans of their arch-rivals Zamalek, who came to offer support.
Chants rang out in front the club against the ministry of interior and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), as fans believed that there was a major lack of security at the match.
One fan, Khaled Gad, told the Guardian: "What's upsetting is the huge lapse in security which I feel is purposeful on the part of the interior ministry and the military." Chants of "down with military rule" were sung by the supporters.
Soon after the violence, a match in the Cairo stadium between Al-Ismailiya and Zamalek was called off in mourning for the dead. State TV showed video of sections of the Cairo stadium on fire.
The announcer said angry fans of Zamalek had protested at the cancellation and set alight to some sections of the stadium.
World news
Egypt
Egypt football match violence: dozens dead and hundreds injured
At least 73 people have died after clashes broke out at game in Port Said between local club Al-Masry and Cairo side Al-Ahly
reddit this
Abdel-Rahman Hussein in Cairo
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 February 2012 21.08 GMT
Article history
Dozens dead in Egypt football clashes. Link to this video
At least 73 people have died and hundreds are injured after violent clashes broke out at a football match in Port Said between Cairo club Al-Ahly and local club Al-Masry, government officials said.
The violence flared after Al-Ahly, one of Egypt's most successful teams, were beaten 3-1. Television footage showed players running from the pitch chased by fans while a small group of riot police tried to protect the players, but they appeared overwhelmed and fans attacked the players as they fled. Fans of both teams clashed and stormed the pitch and dressing rooms. The deputy health minister, Hesham Sheiha, called it "the biggest disaster in Egypt's soccer history".
"This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us. There is no movement and no security and no ambulances," Al-Ahly player Mohamed Aboutrika told his club's television channel. "I call for the league to be cancelled. This is a horrible situation and today can never be forgotten."
Egypt's Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the country's ruling military council, ordered two helicopters be sent to Port Said, the scene of violent soccer clashes, to fly out some of the visiting Al-Ahly soccer team and its fans, military sources said. The helicopters will transfer the injured to military hospitals, the sources said.
State television reported that the Egyptian Premier League would be postponed indefinitely and parliament is to hold a special session on Thursday regarding football violence.
Fans congregated outside Al-Ahly's ground in the Cairo neighbourhood of Zamalek, some in tears as they awaited news of families and friends who had attended the match. They were joined by fans of their arch-rivals Zamalek, who came to offer support.
Chants rang out in front the club against the ministry of interior and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), as fans believed that there was a major lack of security at the match.
One fan, Khaled Gad, told the Guardian: "What's upsetting is the huge lapse in security which I feel is purposeful on the part of the interior ministry and the military." Chants of "down with military rule" were sung by the supporters.
Soon after the violence, a match in the Cairo stadium between Al-Ismailiya and Zamalek was called off in mourning for the dead. State TV showed video of sections of the Cairo stadium on fire.
The announcer said angry fans of Zamalek had protested at the cancellation and set alight to some sections of the stadium.
