January 28 – The death toll in the Egyptian rioting following the sentencing to death of 21 people on Saturday, has now risen two more than 40 with a further 250 people injured, including two players.
The two players were both killed on Port Said, apparently shot as they were on their way to training at the Al-Marikh club which is near the prison where the sentenced fans are being held and which supporters tried to storm on Saturday..
Mahmoud Abdel-Halim al-Dizawi, was shot three times and died. Tamer al-Fahla, who used to play for the city’s main Al-Masry team, was also shot dead on his way to Al-Marikh club.
While supporters of Al Ahly celebrated, supporters of Al Masry and the accused rioted and violence erupted around Egypt.
Live on television the judge, Sobhy Abdel Maguid, read out a list of 21 names “referred to the Mufti”, a phrase used to denote a death verdict as all such sentences must be reviewed by Egypt’s top religious authority. The verdicts for others accused will be announced on March 9. Those sentenced have three weeks to appeal.
Police reform researcher Karim Ennarah said the lack of a proper investigation raises the question that some of those on trial are innocent. The state prosecutor’s office, tasked with investigating the case, was long run by a Mubarak holdover.
Seventy-three people (including nine security officers) were charged with involvement in the February. 1, 2012 disaster where 74 people dies, most crushed when panicked crowds tried to escape the stadium.
Violence at the match between Cairo’s al Ahly and Port Said’s al Masry began minutes after the kick off in Port Said. Fans of al-Masry invaded the pitch, hurling stones and fireworks at visiting supporters al-Ahly.
The deaths occurred at the end of the match when Al Ahly fans trying to escape the stadium found the doors locked and then the stadium lights were turned off.
A section of al-Ahly supporters, known as the “ultras”, played a prominent role in the protests against ex-President Mubarak. Some accused supporters of the toppled leader of instigating the Port Said violence. They also accused them of doing little to prevent it.
The Egyptian Premier League has been suspended since February 2012 and a start date for the new season has been delayed on a number occasions but provisionally fixed for February 1, after the court ruling. It is not inconceivable that the start date will be rescheduled again, depending on public order issues in Egypt.
Al Ahly most recently competed in FIFA’s Club World Cup in December in Japan.
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