Though football Ultras are being blamed for igniting this week's violence, they plead not guilty, Inas Mazhar reports Could it really be a football game that led to the savage riots that erupted in downtown Cairo this past week? Most Egyptians believe so. Reports suggest that a three-week peaceful sit-in was broken up, then turned deadly after a football game that has so far led to 14 deaths and hundreds injured. All because of a football game played on a street that lies between the two buildings of the People's Assembly (parliament) and the headquarters of the Cabinet, where the riots erupted. The bloody incidents were put down to the football Ultras, especially those of Ahli, the country's most popular club. As always, it was difficult to track down any Ultras leaders for a comment. According to their rules, they refrain from talking to the media and never speak in public. The only exception was after the Israeli Embassy in Cairo was attacked in September, after which four Ultras leaders appeared on TV to state their case to a nation that blamed them for the incident. After almost five days of clashes, the Ultras broke their silence. The Ahli football Ultras published a statement late Monday on their official page on Facebook denying any involvement in the football game or indeed the entire events of the week. They also confirmed that the brutally beaten Abboudi who scaled the walls to pick up the ball from the grounds of the People's Assembly was not a member of the Ahli Ultras. The statement said: "During the past few days, we have followed, as all Egyptians, the current incidents taking place in our beloved country Egypt. We have also been following all the lies and false and illogical accusations made against the Ahli Ultras group. "Since the beginning of the revolution, we announced that, as a group, we'll not participate officially in demonstrations because it was against our vision. And just as one can't force a member of the group to participate in the political scene, it's also impossible to deny any citizen his or her right to take part in whatever he or she believes is right for the sake of the country, and joins the protests in Tahrir Square. "We are a group, but each one has his own beliefs and has his own freedom as to how to lead his personal life. And even though we played a role in Egypt's revolution in the beginning, it was an indirect role with our fellow citizens and we are proud of having done so." The statement went on to accuse the Egyptian media of being a failure and "totally ignorant of the facts. "It has become easier for them to point fingers at the Ultras Ahlawi group. We mentioned several times that whenever we decide to have our say in one of these political events, we'll officially announce it through our page, just as we did on Friday 9/9 (the Israeli Embassy attack). Our reason for participating wasn't political but was to take action against a certain incident that involved the group and the police in a football match. And though we announced our departure from the Square, we were blamed for all the incidents that followed at the end of that day. "Finally we would like to confirm what we have repeated several times, that whatever we take part in, it will be officially announced and that if one of the members takes part it will be on a personal basis and has nothing to do with him being a member of the group. "And though it might appear as a surprise, we would also like to confirm that the person named 'Abboudi" and who was the reason for the events, is not a member of the Ahli Ultras. We would also like to announce that 'Ammar Fouad' who speaks on our behalf on TV and other media is not a member of the group as well. We don't know who he is or where he came from. "What we would like to explain here is that we reject the fact of being accused of any riots or hooliganism anywhere, and ask the media to be cautious and fair in reporting because it has all been lies and rumours." The denial by the Ultras of any wrongdoing created only more confusion. If not the Ultras, then who? But in all events, the situation is that the Ultras have now become a strong and maybe dangerous power that cannot be underestimated. In stadiums, Ultras mix with what can only be described as shady characters who could sometimes go beyond the Ultras' perimeter of action. Again, such individuals could easily slip on a red Ahli shirt and join the supporters in the stands, then create mayhem. According to veteran Egyptian sports critic Hassan Mistikawi "the Ahlawi Ultras are very well educated and cultured people. In these incidents I really do believe them when they say it wasn't them. Those we have seen on TV are not the real Ultras. Those who throw stones are not Ultras or even revolutionaries. "We all saw them on 25 January and how they played a significant role in the peaceful demonstrations and how they were there to protect the protesters. They were very well organised and disciplined as they are in stadiums." However, the Ultras of Ahli and rival club Zamalek are posing a threat to the continuity of the national league competition after refusing to accept penalties imposed by the Egyptian Football Association which will prevent them from attending their teams' home matches: Ahli versus Ismaili and Zamalek with Masri. Both games were scheduled to be played in Cairo Stadium, but a warning from both groups to break through the gates if they were not allowed in, forced security officials to ask the EFA to postpone the games. Mistikawi shared with Al-Ahram Weekly his concern over the future of the national league competition. "I believe it won't continue this season if both sides remain so stubborn. The issue is now bigger than protecting a stadium or the football industry. The country is in danger. Police and security are trying to return to duty and citizens were glad the past few days because of more stringent security arrangements on the streets which made us feel safer." He urged the Ultras to see the future of Egypt as the top priority. "They have a more serious role now. They must show their utmost loyalty to the country just as they did at the beginning of the revolution. They need to think seriously and act accordingly or it will all fall apart," Mistikawi said. "The delay is not of our doing but the Ministry of Interior," EFA competitions director Amer Hussein told the Weekly. "Playing the two matches without fans was taken because both Ultras groups insisted on continuing their hooliganism and using flares in the stadium. The ministry believes we should postpone these two matches after all negotiations with the two groups failed. "By the way, they can still attend their team's other matches because the penalty is only for one home game. For example, they can attend the Ahli versus Makasa match because it is not Ahli's home match; the same goes for Zamalek." Hussein added, "Meanwhile, in two days, a decision over these two games will be taken. There has been a suggestion to move them to the Military Stadium in Heliopolis because it has only two main gates and can be controlled. We are awaiting the approval of the Military Stadium officials as to whether they are ready to safeguard these two matches." Hussein agreed with Mistikawi in believing that the real Ultras were not involved in the recent incidents, as does the TV presenter Amr Adib in his popular talk show Al-Qahera Al-Youm. Adib called on officials to look for the real culprits and find another clothes hanger because it was simply "not the ball".
