Egypt suspended all major football games indefinitely after yesterday's violence, which broke out when police fired tear gas and birdshot at disruptive fans.
Egypt's hard-core football fans have been repeatedly involved in the country's explosive political mix and Sunday's violence showed once again the willingness of police to use force.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered an investigation "to uncover the root causes" of the violence, his office said, as fans blamed the police.
Firefighters extinguish a blaze outside a Cairo stadium following an outbreak of violence. Photo / AFP
The radical supporters of one of the clubs involved in Sunday's match, Cairo-based Zamalek SC, accused the authorities of carrying out a "planned massacre".
Others also pointed fingers at the authorities, including several youth groups who demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim.
The violence - reminiscent of clashes that killed more than 70 people after a football match in Port Said in 2012 - erupted as thousands of fans tried to force their way into a Cairo stadium to watch a game, triggering panic as police fired tear gas and birdshot at the crowd.
Health officials said all the victims, mostly youngsters, were crushed in a stampede.
"There are no signs of gunshot or birdshot," senior health official Khaled al-Khatib said.
"The victims had lots of bruises, while some had broken necks... People were trampling each other."
At least 25 others were injured, the health ministry said.


.png)

0 Comments