CAIRO: The governing football body FIFA has handed Egypt a two-game ban from playing in Cairo for the opening two World Cup qualifiers for 2014. The ruling comes after FIFA reviewed an incident in Cairo last November where Egyptian fans attacked the Algeria team bus, injuring three players. FIFA also found Egypt guilty of overcrowding at the Cairo Stadium and of holding up the Algerian bus for 45 minutes after the incident between the two nations. According to a FIFA statement, the disciplinary committee also fined the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) $88,160 over the incidents ahead of the November 14 match. Although Egypt won that match 2-0, it eventually lost to Algeria in Khartoum in a playoff that sent Egypt packing and Algeria to the World Cup next month. “The FIFA disciplinary committee took this decision after determining that the EFA had failed to take all the necessary security precautions to ensure the safety of the Algerian delegation, as well as security and order at the Cairo International Stadium,” said FIFA in a statement. “The Egyptian FA had not adopted the necessary measures to prevent the assault on the bus of the Algerian delegation on the way from the airport to the hotel on Nov 12. In addition, the bus windows were smashed and four members of the Algerian delegation, including three players, were injured. “It was equally noted that security and order in the stadium were not guaranteed, as an excessive number of spectators were granted access to the stadium and the entrances and stairways were obstructed. “Furthermore, at the end of the match, the bus of the Algerian delegation was detained for over 45 minutes.” BM
