Tanta reject blame for post-match disorder against Al Nasr

Tanta have rejected claims that their players, staff or officials were responsible for the disorder which followed their Professional League match against Al Nasr.

The statement came after Tanta won 1-0 in the fifth round of the competition, with Mohamed Mohsen Shika scoring the only goal in the 37th minute at Tanta Stadium.

The result moved Tanta up to 10th place with seven points, while Al Nasr remain on six points.

Tanta said their board had followed reports about the incidents “with great regret”, claiming that some statements had attempted to hold the club and its players responsible for events they did not start and in which they were not the aggressors.

The club added that its board, technical staff, players and supporters had “nothing but respect and appreciation for everyone who sets foot” inside the club.

Tanta said it fully respected Al Nasr and all Egyptian clubs, but “categorically rejects” being associated with the alleged attacks or being portrayed as the side which initiated the confrontation.

According to the statement, supported by photographs and videos circulating online, tension and clashes escalated after the final whistle involving people connected with Al Nasr. Tanta said its players and police officers found themselves in a defensive position as a result.

The club also highlighted footage which it said showed a member of Al Nasr’s coaching staff – specifically the goalkeeping coach – taking off his clothes and carrying a manhole cover while attempting to approach, confront and assault others.

Tanta said the behaviour could not be justified or attributed to its club.

The statement added that Tanta’s players had remained focused on achieving their sporting objective and had secured victory, leaving “no logical reason” for the team or its coaching and administrative staff to provoke trouble after the match.

Tanta also rejected accusations made in a statement by Al Nasr and called for the incident to be assessed using evidence rather than competing accounts. It asked for investigators to examine surveillance cameras, match footage, videos recorded on the pitch, the referee’s and match observers’ reports, security reports and all other available evidence.

The club said it had no fear of an investigation and was ready to provide photographs, recordings and witness statements to the relevant authorities. It insisted that evidence, rather than statements or mutual accusations, should determine the outcome.

Tanta further reserved its full legal rights against anyone or any body that deliberately harmed the reputation of the club, its players or officials, or attributed unproven actions to them.

It specifically denied Al Nasr’s claim that club security had assaulted its players. Tanta said the personnel in blue tracksuits at the stadium were members of the Gharbia security forces, not club employees, and that they had intervened to separate those involved and prevent further clashes.

The club said it respected the investigating authorities, the Egyptian Football Association and the competitions committee, and trusted that an impartial, evidence-based inquiry would establish who started the confrontation, who attempted to attack and who had acted in self-defence.