By Paul Nicholson
March 13 – Egypt’s turbulent political situation has become inextricably linked to club football in the country and the political activities of the fans who have been leaders and activists in the revolution and the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak and the President Mohammed Morsi. Now a joint Ultras statement is calling for removal of the police from all football stadia.
A joint Ultras statement combining the fan groups of several top tier clubs has called for police officers to be replaced by security firms. Egypt’s Ministry of the Interior has reportedly agreed, with the plan likely to implement next season.
The Ultras’ statement said: “We announce to everyone that we do not approve your presence at the football grounds. We do not want the Ministry of Interior in the stands. Your carelessness is what led to this mess!”.
Interior Ministry spokesman, Major General Hani Abdel-Latif, speaking to the Al Nahar Sports channel, said the ministry was ready to remove police from football grounds.
“It’s a great idea,” he said. “Now we can focus on other tasks…The clubs have to work now to enforce such an idea.”
The statement was signed by Ultras Ahlawy and Ultras Devils, Ultras White Knights, Ultras Yellow Dragons, Ultras Wales, Ultras Green Magic, and Feda’yo Suez. Al Masry’s Ultras Green Eagles had not signed the statement.
The Egyptian League was suspended after the Port Said disaster where 74 fans were killed in fighting at a match between Al Ahly and Al Masry. The league resumed in 2013 with matches played behind closed doors but televised live.
This season the crowd ban was been partially lifted but at the end of last month supporters of Al Ahly clashed with police at the Cairo International stadium, leaving 25 police injured.
“After the end of the game, some of the fans chanted anti-police slogans before hurling water bottles, seats and fireworks at the forces who were securing the game,” a statement released by the Interior Ministry read. “On their way out, the fans have also torched a police vehicle and two civilian cars … 10 officers and 15 conscripts were injured as a result. The security forces managed to contain the situation and arrested a number of rioters.”
Following the incident, the Interior Ministry decided to “review its decision to lift the crowd ban,” according to the statement. However, now it appears the authorities are prepared to stay out of stadiums and allow the clubs to organise their own security.
The current league season is now 11 rounds old but is already divided as much by political interference and religious politics as it is by differences in the abilities of teams.
See Osasu Obayiuwana’s column ‘Politics threatens to knock top off Egypt’s football pyramid’ http://www.insideworldfootball.com/osasu-obayiuwana/14002-osasu-obayiuwana-politics-threatens-to-knock-top-off-egypt-s-football-pyramid?highlight=WyJwb3J0Iiwic2FpZCIsInBvcnQgc2FpZCJd
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