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Angry Zamalek fans attack board in draw with Ghana's Chelsea Zamalek's angry fans take advantage of the lifting of a crowd ban to hurl a barrage of insults at the club's board during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Ghanaian side Chelsea
Zamalek fans made their resentment clear during Saturday's 1-1 African Champions League draw with Ghana's Berekum Chelsea, marking the lifting of a crowd ban that has been in place since February. Three thousand Zamalek fans were allowed to attend the Group A match at Cairo's Military Academy Stadium as their team, who had already lost hopes of qualifying for the Champions League semis, earned their first point of a disastrous campaign. The hosts took the lead after 13 minutes when diminutive attacking midfielder Mohamed Ibrahim curled a delightful shot into the far corner from inside the area after exchanging passes with Burkinabe striker Abdoulaye Cisse. However, recurring defensive blunders continued to haunt the success-starved Zamalek, with defender Awudu Nafiu bringing Chelsea level in the 24th minute after Zamalek's backline failed to clear a free kick. Zamalek laid siege to Chelsea's area in the second half but failed to score a winner. They lie at the bottom of the group with one point. The draw meant that Zamalek's arch-rivals Ahly, who face TP Mazembe of the DR Congo on Sunday, had reached the semis without kicking a ball as they boast an unassailable four-point lead over third-placed Chelsea, who only have one match remaining. Fans back in stands Zamalek's die-hard supporters were allowed back to the stands for the first time since February's Port Said disaster, which forced Egyptian clubs and the national team to play their home games behind closed doors due to lingering security concerns. They hurled a barrage of insults at the club's board of directors and chairman Mamdouh Abbas, blaming them for a poor run and mounting financial difficulties which prompted veteran midfielder Ahmed Hassan and Benin striker Razak Omotoyossi to threaten to depart in protest at unpaid salaries. They called on them to leave the club which have not won any title since lifting the Egypt Cup trophy in 2008. It remains to be seen whether the interior ministry would allow spectators to attend the last group-stage match between Cairo foes Ahly and Zamalek. Ahly beat Zamalek 1-0 last month behind closed doors in the first Cairo derby to be held without fans. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)
