Egypt: More than 70 dead in Soccer riot

[Auggie]

Associated Press / 1-1-12

CAIRO -- At least 74 people were killed and hundreds injured after soccer fans rushed the field in the seaside city of Port Said Wednesday following an upset victory by the home team over Egypt's top club, setting off clashes and a stampede as riot police largely failed to intervene.

SNIP

The scuffles began after fans of Al-Masry stormed the field following a rare 3-1 win against Al-Ahly. Al-Masry supporters hurled sticks and stones as they chased players and fans from the rival team, who ran toward the exits to escape, according to witnesses. One man told state TV he heard gunshots in the stadium, while a lawmaker from Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood said the police didn't prevent fans carrying knives from entering the stadium.

TV footage showed Al-Ahly players rushing for their locker room as fistfights broke out among the hundreds of fans swarming the field. Some men had to rescue a manager from the losing team as he was being beaten.

Egypt's interior ministry said 74 people died, including one police officer, and 14 of the injured were police officers. Security forces arrested 47 people for involvement in the violence, the ministry said in a statement.

MORE: http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7528889/egypt-soccer-match-postgame-more-70-dead-melee-fan-violence?eleven=twelve

Video at link.

[HuckleB]

1. Mas...

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2012/0201/Egypt-soccer-tragedy-claims-73-lives-and-fans-rumors-video

"Interesting will be the response of the Ultras Ahlawy, Ahly's hard-core supporters group. They and the supporters' clubs from a few other teams were deeply involved in organizing defenses at Tahrir Square during the uprising against Mubarak -- bringing organization, and know-how in dealing with the country's riot police. Though football fans, they seem to take as much delight in taunting and jeering at the police as they do in celebrating goals.

The Ultras occasionally flexed their muscles on the streets of Cairo since the revolutoin. The killing of an Ahly supporter by police after a match in September led to a mass show of strength by the Ultras, who marched on the Israeli embassy venting their fury and sacked the place."

[HuckleB]

2. From one year ago: Soccer Clubs Central to Ending Egypt's "Dictatorship of Fear"

http://www.edgeofsports.com/2011-01-31-596/index.html