Fans of Egypt's Al-Ahly, known as Ultras, display a giant figure of former player Mohamed Abo Trika during their team's African Super Cup match against Tunisia's CS Sfaxien in Cairo. (Reuters)
Egypt eases ban on football match attendance
Following a meeting with security officials, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said 10,000 fans will be allowed to attend games in Cairo and other cities
Egypt’s interior ministry set a quota of fans allowed to attend Egyptian Premier League (EPL) matches, lifting a three-year-long ban following football-related violence, Al Ahram newspaper reported.
Following a meeting with security officials, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said 10,000 fans will be allowed to attend games in Cairo Stadium, Air Defense Stadium, Arab Contractors Stadium and the Borg al-Arab stadium.
Remaining arenas will only take 5,000 spectators.
“The [EFA] board will be committed to new regulations that guarantee crowd discipline before, during and after the games,” a statement by EFA said.
Members of the public have been banned from attending matches since 2012, when 72 football fans were killed in the city of Port Said during post-match violence.
Few fans were allowed to attend matches part of continental competitions. Additionally, the EPL was cancelled in 2012 and 2013, which put clubs and players on an extended hiatus.
Also Read
-
Egypt suffers defeat at historic American Football match
-
Egypt among 4 candidates to host 2017 African Cup
-
Egyptian Shikabala left out of UEFA squad
-
FIFA to investigate claims of Egypt govt interference in football
-
Egypt football fans clash with police
-
English football star Rooney in Egypt for ‘warm training’