The American coach got off to a stumbling start in his debut, reports Inas Mazhar The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Sunday that Ahli and Zamalek will play a game each in the domestic Egyptian football league behind closed doors following the persistent use of fireworks by fans. Despite frequent warnings by the EFA over the use of firecrackers, the Ultras, motivated militant soccer fans of mainly Ahli and Zamalek, recent set off light flares and fireworks during their victories over Ittihad and Military Production respectively, According to the sanctions, Ahli are due to host Ismaili on 18 November, in the 6th week of the national league, without their fans while Zamalek will be hosting Misri on 14 December also behind closed doors. This is the second time this season for both clubs to be ordered to play at home without their supporters. A week ago, the EFA's competition committee ordered Ahli, Zamalek and Ismaili to play a home game behind closed doors for the same reason. Ahli and Zamalek Ultras lit several light flares during the 1-1 draws with Al-Gouna and Al-Gaish respectively while Ismaili were sanctioned for their fans' violence and clashes in their 1-1 draw at home to Ittihad. Thus, Ahli's game against newly-promoted Dakhlya and Ismaili's game against Enppi, both scheduled to be played yesterday, 2 November, were set to be without fans. Zamalek will host Police Union on 8 November behind closed doors. The EFA vowed to clamp down on disorder after late last season saw crowd disorder ranging from the use of fireworks to unprecedented pitch invasions. Nevertheless, Ahli and Zamalek supporters seemed unconcerned by the consistent EFA warnings over the use of light flares and persist on setting them off during games. Misri were also hit by the same punishment after acts of violence marred their home game with Smouha. The match was stopped for eight minutes after home supporters invaded the pitch before being ejected by security personnel. Some threw plastic water bottles and stones onto the pitch. Consequently, Misri will host the Arab Contractors behind closed doors on 7 November. Earlier, on 19 October, Zamalek were forced to play their home game against Spinning Mehalla away in the coastal city of Ismailia after being given a one-match home ban after their fans set off fireworks during a 2-1 victory over Haras Al-Hedoud in the Egypt Cup semi-final. Similarly, Ahli played their opener, a home game against Haras Al-Hedoud, away from home due to sanctions imposed by the EFA in the wake of crowd trouble during and after Ahli's 4-0 win over Kima Aswan in round 32 of Egypt's Cup playoffs two months ago. Scuffles between fans and security forces made headlines for several days after the Cup clash. By the end of the melee, which featured violent clashes between Ultras and police, 135 had been injured from both sides. As a result, Ahli's league opener was taken to Alexandria. However, even there, Ahli's over-enthusiastic supporters set off light flares in celebration before unfurling a rather aggressive banner that read: 'You will not teach us how to support our team.' The Ultras, hardcore spectators the likes of Ahli and Zamalek, argue that the use of firecrackers is needed to create a feverish atmosphere inside stadiums. "This message is primarily directed at the Egyptian Football Association," Ultras Ahlawi said on its Facebook page, which includes 233,000 users. "It is also directed at anyone who believes he can turn football stadiums into prisons under his control. We own the stadiums, we own the stands." According to the newly-enforced EFA regulations, a club whose fans use fireworks will be fined, initially LE20,000. A repeat offense will result in a home-match ban and afterwards will have a home game played behind closed doors. Egyptian league clubs who have been penalised for the repeated violence of their fans with hefty fines and bans on home matches have denounced the new EFA penalties as unreasonable. The clubs object to the fact that the guidelines hold them responsible not only for the actions during a match of their own fans but also of those of the opposing club. "They should have explained the rules before the beginning of the season. The association doesn't take into consideration the big clubs in the competition, like Ahli and Zamalek," said Ahli football director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz. "This is ridiculous. Opponents' fans can attend our matches, sit in our stands and set off fireworks in order to get us punished through home match bans. This is unfair. If this is the case, citizens should specify their favourite club on their national ID cards," Abdel-Hafiz added sarcastically. In a complaint to the EFA, Zamalek asserted that security in stadium stands was the responsibility of the Interior Ministry and the security forces rather than the clubs. "The club doesn't have any authority to stop crowds and search them for fireworks, so the penalties aren't reasonable," Zamalek said in a statement on its website. The EFA argues the new penalties are designed to curb politically motivated militant football fan activism -- most likely instigated following the uprising early this year -- that since early September has resulted in repeated clashes with security forces. After the crisis deepened and fans insisted on firing off fireworks in several games, the EFA became only more determined to stiffen up. Amer Hussein, EFA competition committee chairman, rejected the idea of scrapping sanctions on clubs penalised for fans setting off fireworks in the stands, "The goal of sanctions is to first and foremost protect fans from fire flares," Hussein said during a sports show. "I refuse to scrap the penalties for setting off light flares, except if there is a sovereign decision taken in this regard." A meeting between Minister of Interior Mansour El-Essawi, Minister of Information Osama Heikal, EFA chairman Samir Zaher, head of the Supreme Council for Sports Hassan Sakr and six chairmen of league clubs was due to be held on Tuesday to discuss hooliganism and fireworks in stadiums. One decision that might be taken is a return to bodily checking of spectators at gates to prevent the smuggling in of fireworks into stands, plus added security. Fourteen soccer fans are standing trial in two separate cases concerning riots. The courts are scheduled to issue verdicts later this month. Recently, a Cairo juvenile court postponed its verdict in the case of seven members of Ultras Ahlawi until 27 November, charged with violence, destruction of public property and attacking policemen. The seven claim they were hurling insults at former interior minister Habib El-Adli and ousted president Hosni Mubarak but nothing more. Mubarak and El-Adli currently face charges of ordering the killing of unarmed protesters during Egypt's 25 January Revolution.
