Hardcore football fans of Cairo-based Ahly team converge on flashpoint square week before anticipated court verdict on Egypt's worst-ever football tragedy; threaten 'justice or chaos' Thousands of Ahly team hardcore football fans (Ultras Ahlawy) have converged on Tahrir Square in central Cairo, gearing up for next week's anticipated court verdict over last year's Port Said disaster. Egypt's worst-ever football tragedy left more than 70 Ahly fans dead after they were attacked by the Port Said "Masry" fans following the end of an ill-tempered Egyptian Premier League game on 1 February, 2012. The Ultras Ahlawy members are marching from the club's headquarters in El-Gezira district, Cairo, to Tahrir to step up pressure on the judge presiding over the notorious case. The ardent group of supporters vowed to take the matter into their own hands if the verdict, expected to be delivered on 26 January, did not satisfy them. They did not specify what actions they might take but distributed many flyers and stickers bearing the words "justice or chaos" in Cairo's underground and public buses. Ahram Online's Mai Shaheen said Ultras Ahlawy members are accompanied by mothers of the slain victims, who chanted angry slogans against the Muslim Brotherhood, from which President Mohamed Morsi hails. "Any political signs or slogans are prohibited. Our target is justice for the martyrs. We are getting ready for the day of the verdict," Ultras Ahlawy said on their official Facebook page. Seventy-three defendants including nine security officials, three Masry football club officials and a number of fans are on trial for their suspected role in the disaster, which sent shockwaves across Egypt and led to an indefinite suspension of domestic football activity. However, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said recently the new league season will kick off on 2 February, defying a warning by Ultras Ahlawy who insisted they would not allow any resumption of domestic football unless "justice is done" in the Port Said case.
