The domestic competition's round seven was played as scheduled with Ahli beating Enppi 2-1 in Group A on Sunday while Haras Al-Hedoud and Al-Gouna played to a scoreless draw. Ahli who have played only six games, thus made up for their shock 3-0 loss to Haras Al-Hedoud last week. Ahli now lead the group together with Enppi at 12 points each. For Al-Hedoud, the draw dropped the team to third place with 10 points while Al-Gouna remained at five points. Two other group matches were scheduled to be held on Tuesday with Talaea Al-Geish meeting the Arab Contractors and Semouha taking on Ghazl Mehalla. In Group B, Petrojet outclassed Ittihad of Alexandria 4-0 to improve to 11 points and jump to third place, only four points behind second place Ismaili. Ittihad Al-Shorta crushed Dakhlia 4-0 on Monday in an all-police derby. Meanwhile, Zamalek maintained its winning streak and leading its group since the beginning of the competition. Zamalek, who are a perfect six out of six, top the group with 18 points. Ittihad remains in seventh place with four points while the Arab Contractors are at the bottom with only three points. The continuation of the national league competition was very much in doubt after riots broke out on Saturday following the Port Said court verdicts. Although the death sentence for 21 people found guilty of the killing of 74 football fans, mainly Ahli spectators, in a league match last year, was upheld, several police officials whom the Ultras of Ahli claimed were equally responsible for the massacre, were set free. Following the verdicts, thousands of angry Ahli Ultras went directly to the headquarters of both the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) and the Police Club, both located on the same street, and set fire to the two. The EFA was the most damaged; its offices which contained documents that go back to 1924, were charred. Trophies were looted especially the Africa Cup of Nations which Egypt has won a record seven times. “Had we known that the cup would be stolen, we might not have put so much effort in winning it three consecutive times and keeping it forever,” national team captain Ahmed Hassan who held the cup three times consecutively, said. The Saturday incidents put football activities and its future at stake, while creating much confusion. Azmi Megahed, the EFA's media director and spokesman, announced three different decisions in a row on three TV channels. First, he announced the cancelation of the competition, then said it had been suspended for one week, then said the tournament will take place as scheduled. It was reported that the EFA had intended to cancel the competition since its headquarters was ruined with no single document saved. But reports added that the EFA had received instructions from the highest authority to continue with the competition. Egypt's State Sports Minister Al-Amri Farouk was visibly upset when he checked on the EFA the following day. “This building with all its contents is part of Egypt's sports history. The lost documents and items are priceless,” he said. On the inspection tour, Farouk was accompanied by a group of engineers who said the three-floor building needs complete refurbishing. The minister said that the ministry will bear the expenses while the EFA approached the Shura Council in order for it to allow them to demolish the building and build a completely new one. CAF President Eissa Hayatou who was re-elected for another term in office at a congress held in Morocco, showed his solidarity with the EFA and confirmed that the Egypt vs Zimbabwe World Cup qualifier scheduled for 26 March will be held in Cairo as scheduled. Reports claimed that the Zimbabweans wanted to move the match for security reasons.
