By Andrew Warshaw
October 16 – Egypt’s football association has delayed the rest of the domestic season indefinitely, saying it has not been given sufficient security guarantees by the Government in the wake of the Port Said tragedy.
Seventy-four people, most of them supporters of Cairo club Al-Ahly were killed when fans of rival Port Said club Al-Masry went on the rampage at the end of a match between the pair in February.
“We asked the Ministry of Interior for the authorisation but we didn’t receive any response,” the Egyptian Football Association said in a statement.
The league had been due to resume on October 17, but some of Ahly’s supporters, known as ultras, have been calling for a suspension until verdicts are heard in the trial of 73 defendants accused of carrying out the killings.
All football activities were disrupted in the country following the stadium stampede, the deadliest sporting tragedy in Egyptian history that prompted days of violent protests during which another 16 people were killed.
Many domestic clubs were relying on the resumption of the league to resolve financial difficulties.
“If the Sports Ministry fails to organise the domestic league, it must compensate us with 12 million Egyptian pounds (£1.2 million/$1.9 million/€1.5 million), to pay the salary bills of the club,” Zamalek’s President told reporters at the club.
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