Death penalty for 21 for Egypt soccer violence

[Bosonic]

Source: AP

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court sentenced 21 people to death on charges related to one of the world's deadliest incidents of soccer violence, which killed 74 mostly teenage fans of Egypt's most popular sports club last year.

The verdict comes after a day of clashes between security forces and protesters opposed to Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi that left seven dead.

Fans of al-Ahly, whose stands were attacked by rival club Al-Masry in the Feb. 1 incident in the Mediterranean city of Port Said, had promised more violence if the accused did not receive death sentences.

Families of the victims shouted "Allahu Akbar!" or God is great, after the judge read out his verdict. One man fainted, while others wailed and cried in disbelief as they carried pictures of the young men killed in the soccer riot.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/death-penalty-some-egypt-soccer-violence

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Two policemen killed in Egypt after soccer case verdict

(Reuters) - Two policemen were shot dead outside a prison in Egypt's Port Said on Saturday shortly after a court sentenced to death 21 people found guilty over a 2012 soccer stadium disaster that killed 74 people, a security source reported.

Protesters had gathered at the prison where many of the defendants in the soccer case were held and state media had earlier reported gunshots outside the jail.

Earlier on Saturday, a court sentenced to death 21 of the 73 defendants accused in the Port Said soccer stadium disaster.

Soccer fans and families in Cairo had cheered the court ruling. Soccer supporters had demanded the death penalty for the accused and threatened violence if justice was not done.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/26/us-egypt-court-death-idUSBRE90P07120130126

[Bosonic]

1. Egypt army to deploy after soccer verdict riot

Last edited Sat Jan 26, 2013, 08:46 AM - Edit history (1)

CAIRO (AP) — Egyptian security officials say the military is being deployed to the Mediterranean city of Port Said after eight people were killed in riots outside the main prison following a controversial verdict related to one of the world's deadliest incidents of soccer violence.

A Cairo judge sentenced 21 people to death in connection with the Feb. 1, 2012, soccer melee in Port Said that killed 74 fans of the Cairo-based Al-Ahly team.

Two police were shot dead outside Port Said's main prison when angry relatives tried to storm the facility to free the defendants on trial.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd, killing six in Saturday's violence outside the prison.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/death-penalty-some-egypt-soccer-violence

Egypt unrest: Death sentences over football riots spark violence


At least 22 people have died in the Egyptian city of Port Said, in clashes sparked by the sentencing to death of 21 local people over football riots.

Supporters of the defendants tried to storm the prison holding them and attacked police stations.

The 21 were sentenced over riots which killed 74 people after a football game at Port Said stadium last February.

Saturday's violence follows a day of unrest on the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21211984

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. More reports:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/26/egyptian-protests-football-death-sentences

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/riot-kills-22-in-egypt-after-death-sentences-for-football-hooligans-8468099.html

[dipsydoodle]

3. Egypt unrest: Death sentences over football riots spark violence

At least 22 people have died in the Egyptian city of Port Said, in clashes sparked by the sentencing to death of 21 local people over football riots.

Supporters of the defendants tried to storm the prison holding them and attacked police stations.

The 21 were sentenced over riots which killed 74 people after a football game at Port Said stadium last February.

Saturday's violence follows a day of unrest on the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21211984

[Marrah_G]

4. What is it with soccer and these violent fights between rival groups of fans?

Sad to see more people will be dying, apparently 74 wasn't enough

[enlightenment]

5. The roots of this have more to do with

politics than football.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Indeed - this was politics, and revenge for the fall of Mubarak

The politics behind Egypt's football riot

This calamity has all the clumsy fingerprints of a setup. On a balmy night in Port Said, the game and some of its most fanatic supporters look to have been framed.

It's been widely noted that the circumstances surrounding the riot are suspicious at best. The massacre came on the one-year anniversary of the storming of Tahrir Square by a group of pro-Mubarak counter-revolutionaries. It was directed at a group known for manifesting a liberal political agenda through support for a team founded in the name of historically disenfranchised workers and students. And it occurred at a moment when the interim military government has urged the citizenry to support the extension of emergency powers, and with the seeming complicity of law enforcement and stadium security.

"Of course it's politically (motivated)," said Mohamed Bakry, a student in nearby Suez who lost friends in the violence. "The people who was there said 'we saw a strange people with a lot of weapons in the stadium, and (at the) entrance (to) the stadium no one asked us about a ticket.'"

"We're getting detailed accounts of the police standing aside and letting these groups through," said Elizabeth Arrott, Voice of America bureau chief in Egypt. "There are reports that they may have even opened the barriers separating the crowds."

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7532975/the-politics-egypt-football-riot-brent-latham

[dipsydoodle]

6. This went far above routine soccer supporting team violence

which conventionally is partly organised - the Top Boys / Generals of the supporters clubs have each others phone numbers to arrange venues whatever. Most grow out of it but unfortunately not all - I've got friends who grew out if it.

Liverpool / Juventus went completely OTT http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heysel_Stadium_disaster

Its not something to try to understand - they live in their own world and and the best that can be said is that they generally try to avoid hurting the general public.

Personally I have no interest in soccer whatsoever whereas my daughter is a walking encyclopedia on UK stuff.

[Marrah_G]

8. I think you are right

Best not to understand those clubs ..lol.

Very sad what is happening in Egypt right now. As bad as things get here, we sometimes forget that we can live in relative safety compared to many part of the world.

[awoke_in_2003]

9. I don't understand it...

soccer is a good cure for insomnia.

[Purveyor]

7. 27 Die In Egypt Riot After Soccer Violence Verdict

CAIRO (AP) — Angry relatives and residents rampaged through an Egyptian port city Saturday in rioting that killed at least 27 people after a judge sentenced nearly two dozen soccer fans to death for involvement in deadly violence after a game last year.

The unrest was the latest in a bout of violence that has left a total of 38 people dead in two days, including 11 killed in clashes between police and protesters marking Friday's second anniversary of the uprising that overthrew longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.

President Mohammed Morsi canceled a scheduled trip to Ethiopia Saturday and instead met for the first time with top generals as part of the newly formed National Defense Council.

The violence in Port Said erupted after a judge sentenced 21 people to death in connection with the Feb. 1 soccer melee that killed 74 fans of the Cairo-based Al-Ahly team. Executions in Egypt are usually carried out by hanging.

All the defendants — who were not present in the courtroom Saturday for security reasons — can appeal the verdict.

MORE...

http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/27-die-in-Egypt-riot-after-soccer-violence-verdict-4225298.php

[dipsydoodle]

10. Death toll rises to 31 in Egypt violence

PORT SAID, Egypt (AP) -- The death toll from rioting in the Egyptian city of Port Said has risen to 31, health officials said Sunday, as army troops backed by tanks and armored vehicles staked out positions at key government facilities to try to restore order.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-01-27-04-34-47