ISMAILIYA: Ahly went back to Cairo by Egyptian security forces' armored vehicles, following the fan violence during and after their game with Ismaili in the Egyptian Premier League on Saturday. The match was distinctly ill-tempered, as the home side s spectators kept on hurling chairs and fireworks throughout the game. The Red Devils had to wait at the stadium for four hours after the game in order to make sure the hooligans no longer pose threat, then they were escorted out by security men. The match ended in a 1-0 win for Ahly and it was expected that the Dervishes frustrated supporters would hassle the winners. Chairman Samir Zaher insisted the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) will adopt a zero tolerance policy towards the unfortunate incidents. Ahly players had rushed into the tunnel right following the final whistle to avoid being hit by a barrage of seats thrown from Ismaili fans. There will be no room for leniency towards such behavior, Zaher told Al-Hayat TV after the game. The punishments we used at the past, like fines for example, will not take place anymore because they are useless. We will force the clubs of misbehaving fans to play outside their stadiums and without their supporters. Zaher believes tough measures against hooligans need to be taken sooner rather than later due to the country s international commitments in the upcoming period. We should crackdown on rioters quickly because Egypt have many important games in the World Cup qualifiers. Moreover, the country will host the U-20 World Cup later this year, he added.
