On Wednesday, approximately a hundred supporters stormed the premises of the Egyptian football federation in protest against the resumption of the championship, despite the conclusion of the trial related to the Al Masry tragedy. The demonstrators, predominantly fans of Cairo’s Al Alhy club and known as Ultras, hurled projectiles and various objects at the federation building’s facade. Despite these actions, police reported no injuries.
This display of dissent from the supporters of Egypt’s largest club occurred just two days after the Ministry of Sports and the Interior reached an agreement to restart the national football championship, seven months after the tragic events in Port Said. Al Alhy fans are adamant that the championship should not resume without holding those responsible for the violence accountable. The legal proceedings are still ongoing, fueling the frustration of the National Ultras.
In February of the previous year, a championship encounter between Al Masry and Al Alhy took a dark turn. With the Port Said club leading 3-1 at the match’s conclusion, its supporters stormed the pitch, throwing projectiles and bottles, creating chaos while the police forces remained motionless. Almost 70 individuals lost their lives in the ensuing violence. During this period of political turmoil, some speculated about a conspiracy involving the police and supporters (aligned with the ousted president Hosni Mourabak) against the Ultras, who were viewed as the primary instigators of the revolution. Subsequently, the authorities mandated matches in the championship and Champions League involving Egyptian teams to be held behind closed doors.
