The Egyptian Premier League will be resumed on 15 April after a mandatory stoppage for more than two months, an EFA source said on Tuesday. Competition was suspended due to a wave of popular uprising initiated on 25 January which eventually forced former president Hosni Mubarak to step down. The EFA was eager to resume competition but had to wait for the approval of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, Egypt's current interim rulers. “The first and second divisions will be resumed on 15 April after we receive the consent of the Supreme Council,” the EFA source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Ahram Online. “The current regulations will remain intact. Three clubs will be promoted from the second division to the first division, and three clubs will be relegated from the first division to the second division. “EFA chairman Samir Zaher also agreed to allow the fans to attend all matches.” The news will come as a major boost for the financially-struggling clubs, who feared the worst after learning that the Premier League might be cancelled due to ongoing security concerns. Cairo giants Zamalek, who are chasing their first league title since 2004, top the table with 32 points from 15 matches, three ahead of nearest challengers Ismaily. Zamalek's arch-rivals Ahly, who are eyeing a seventh successive league triumph, lie fourth with 26 points. The Egyptian Cup, the country's secondary competition which was won by Harras El-Hodoud in the past two seasons, has been cancelled due to a time shortage.
