The Egypt Cup will not be played later this month as previously planned after the interior ministry declined to respond to the EFA's request over whether it will be able to resume securing domestic football games. Egyptian teams have been forced to play their home African fixtures behind closed doors since February's Port Said disaster, which led to the suspension of domestic football activities. However, the EFA sought to hold the Egypt Cup later this month after Mohamed Morsi was elected as Egypt's president, hoping that his arrival could signal the end of lingering security concerns that dearly affected Egyptian football. "It's now virtually impossible that we hold the Egypt Cup because the interior ministry did not make any decisions over that matter," the EFA's interim chairman Anwar Saleh said in a television interview. The EFA, however, said the Premier League new season should start on 24 August. "A meeting will be held with the interior ministry officials at the end of this week, during which we will demand the return of spectators to the stadiums," EFA spokesman Azmy Megahed said. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at@AO Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports)
