EGP declines vs. USD at Thursday's close    Euro area inflation rises to 2.0% in October '24 – flash estimates    IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE WHO SMOKES, GIVE THEM THE FACTS    Asian stocks slide as chip sector weakens    Egypt's Minister of Environment highlights biodiversity issues at COP16    Egypt's Agriculture Minister meets Syrian, Bahraini counterparts to boost cooperation in Amman    Al-Qassam Brigades targets Israeli vehicles in eastern Gaza    ACUD, DP World, and GAFI sign MoU to develop free zone in New Capital    Egyptian government encourages increased mutual investment with Bahrain: Finance Minister    A Tale of Two Cities: Alexandria hosts 2nd edition of exhibition celebrating Greek, Egyptian cultural ties    Egypt, Djibouti leaders discuss strengthening ties, regional issues    Egypt's FM affirms commitment to Sahel security, offers support to Niger    Egyptian banking sector support underprivileged communities in Alexandria – CBE    Afghanistan signs $163m deal for cement plant    US tightens tech investment rules for China    Biden unveils $3b investment to strengthen US port infrastructure    Military Production, Environment Ministers inaugurate banana fiber recycling plant    Luxor Museum to host exhibition on 19th century antiquities inspection tours    Nourhan Kamal Wins 2024 Helmi Sharawy Award for African Studies    Egypt observes Intl. E-waste Day, highlights recycling efforts    Egypt's military capabilities sufficient to defend country: Al-Sisi    Al-Sisi emphasises water security is Egypt's top priority amid Nile River concerns    Cairo Opera House hosts grand opening of Arab Music Festival, Conference    Grand Egyptian Museum ready for partial trial run on October 16: PM    Colombia unveils $40b investment plan for climate transition    Kabaddi: Ancient Indian sport gaining popularity in Egypt    Ecuador's drought forces further power cuts    Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul after Paris Olympics    Basketball Africa League Future Pros returns for 2nd season    Egypt joins Africa's FEDA    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Paris Olympics opening draws record viewers    Who leads the economic portfolios in Egypt's new Cabinet?    Financial literacy becomes extremely important – EGX official    Motaz Azaiza mural in Manchester tribute to Palestinian journalists    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Egypt eyes attendance record in U-20 World Cup, army helps
Published in Daily News Egypt on 15 - 10 - 2009

CAIRO: Organizers of the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt said Wednesday they were set to break the attendance record for the event, but conceded that conscripts from the country s military had helped fill stadiums.
Military supporters have become a regular fixture at games played at five Egyptian cities in the Sept. 24-Oct. 16 tournament, with thousands of young men in brightly colored tracksuits turning up to each match in columns of army trucks.
FIFA vice president Jack Warner said attendance so far had reached 1.15 million people after 50 matches and was likely to exceed the record of 1.19 million, set at the previous World Cup in Canada two years ago.
He said a new attendance record would stand regardless of how the stadiums are filled.
What is the big issue whether the (conscripts) come in tracksuits - yellow, red or green? For me the most important issue is that they are there, Warner said.
Hany Abo Rida, head of the event s local organizing committee, said that tickets for attending conscripts had been paid for by the army and the police.
The fact is that these soldiers are human beings and they have the right to attend. They are (doing) their military service and we are honoring them by their attendance, he said.
Two matches remain in the tournament: Ghana plays four-time champion Brazil in the final Friday, while Costa Rica and Hungary will contend for third place.
Warner said that matches played so far were being reviewed for potential refereeing errors, after 261 yellow cards and 27 red cards had been shown in 50 matches - among the highest ever since the tournament began in 1977.
I know there have been concerns about the referees and the amount of red cards and yellow cards which have been issued, and I think the concerns are genuine and legitimate, Warner said.
We are now reviewing all the games to see in what ways we can improve the referees.


Clic here to read the story from its source.