April 24 – Egypt has extended the suspension of all football activities in the country for another 15 days as a containment measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
“In accordance with the decisions of the Egyptian prime minister, extending a curfew in the country, EFA has decided to extend the suspension of football activities starting from the beginning of May for another 15 days,” said an Egyptian Football Association statement. “The decision applies to all grades of local competitions and all ages.”
On March 15, football was suspended in Egypt. The new nationwide extended suspension follows the government’s decision to maintain a partial curfew from 9pm to 6am during the month of Ramadan, a holy month for Muslims around the world.
Egyptian clubs had already suspended any training activities and they have demanded their players maintain their fitness levels by working out at home.
The suspension has affected local clubs financially, forcing a number of Egyptian Premier League teams to reduce players’ wages, including Ittihad of Alexandria, according to Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram. Players at Al Ahly, one of Egypt’s biggest clubs, however, will not take pay cuts in the near future, the club announced.
Egypt has recorded 3,891 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 287 deaths, according to the latest data of the Johns Hopkins University.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1731481405labto1731481405ofdlr1731481405owedi1731481405sni@o1731481405fni1731481405