CAIRO - Many Egyptian sports experts and heads of federations have been urging the concerned officials to take the necessary measures to prevent something like ‘The Massacre of Port Said' ever happening again, stressing the dire need for sporting events to resume in the country. Experts stress the big role media should play in making the fans aware of the regulations and respect their opponents, to avoid further tragedies. Amer Hussein, the chief of the competition committee in the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), says that securing matches is the responsibility of the security bodies, as only they have the right to cancel any match, as they are responsible for securing the players, coaching staff and fans. He deeply regrets the deadly incident in Port Said. "The law must be applied to prevent such violence in future," Hussein stresses. The Premier League matches have been postponed, while most soccer clubs have suspended all their sporting activities and declared 40 days of mourning. The Massacre of Port Said has cast a shadow over the country's sports sector. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) board members have announced their resignation, in solidarity with the families who lost their loved ones in Port Said. On Wednesday February 1, in Port Said, a match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly turned violent, claiming the lives of 74 Ahly fans and injuring around 1,000 more. Tareq el-Ashri, Haras el-Hedoud's coach, has expressed his sadness at the cloud hovering over the country, suggesting that the security forces give up securing matches, leaving this to the clubs' private security companies. "This will prevent violence between police and fans," he explains, noting that discipline will only come back if the fans are less unrestrained. Mamdouh Abbas, President of Zamalek Club, hopes the League starts up again, after the mourning period, with a friendly next month between the Cairo's big rivals Ahly and Zamalek, with the proceeds going to the martyrs' families. Ahly Club have suspended all their sporting activities and declared 40 days of mourning, ending on March 11. The violence that erupted after Ahly-Masry match was one of the deadliest incidents in the history of soccer worldwide. It saw thousands of supporters of Port Said team Al-Masry invade the pitch and attack fans of Cairo's Al-Ahly with bottles and rocks. Hassan Shehata, Zamalek's technical coach, also supports the return of Premier League matches, provided the games are secured. Ismail Youssef, Zamalek's assistant coach, agrees, adding that those responsible for this tragic incident must be punished. Mohamed Farag Amer, Smouha Club President, says that he cannot think about sporting activities resuming in the country, until the martyrs get their rights. He too stresses that the perpetrators must be punished. Farouq Gaafar, El-Geish Club coach, stresses that it's vital for sporting activities to resume in Egypt, especially the Premier League and with the fans in attendance. "The resumption of Premier League will help the people overcome their grief, provided that there is adequate security," he says. In the wake of the indefinite suspension of the Premier League and most clubs postponing all their sporting activities, around six sports TV channels are threatened with closure. The cancelling of the Premier League may result in the loss of many sports investments, estimated to be worth more than LE1 billion, besides the loss of TV advertising. The channels under threat are Nile Sport, Modern Sport, Modern Koora, Al-Ahly, Melody Sport and El-Nahar Sport, whose bread and butter comes from broadcasting and analysing Premier League games. "What happened is much to be regretted, but I think that everyone has learnt their lesson," Gaafar adds. "This tragic incident does show the mettle of the Egyptian fans, as they are all backing the Ahly or Zamalek fans," adds Gaafar, pointing out that the near future will witness a radical change in the fans' mentality. The recent problems have prompted many Egyptian players to seriously ponder leaving the country to play in other leagues, whether on loan or permanently. Ismaili star Hosni Abd Rabou has joined Ittihad Jeddah on loan till the end of the season. "The tragedy at Port Said has prompted me to go to the Saudi club on loan for six months," says the Egyptian international midfielder, adding that the postponing of the League and the unstable atmosphere have also contributed to his decision. Gamal Mohamed Ali, an ex-EFA member, has also expressed his deep grief at this tragedy. "It's dreadful to see something like this happen at a football match, and for so many young men to lose their lives," he says, urging officials to change the country's Sports Day from March 3 to February 1, in commemoration of the victims. Al-Ahly back in training Feb. 17 Al-Ahly assistant coach Mohamed Youssef says that the team will be back training on February 17, after the shock caused them by the Port Said tragedy. Youssef explains that technical coach Manuel José and his foreign assistants are now in Portugal and they will also be back in Cairo on Friday. The Portuguese tactician has asked the administrative staff of the club to ensure that the players will turn up at the club on Friday to start training with him. Manuel José da Silva has expressed his deep grief and sadness, and offered his condolences to the families of the fans who died in Port Said. Before travelling to Portugal, he expressed his shock at what had happened. "I have been asking myself time and again how this could have happened in a football match. Did these youths only die because they loved their team and followed it everywhere?" José wondered, adding that he will never forget this incident. "The Egyptian people are unique. They love each other, so I am really very heartbroken," he added. Red Devils won't sell their stars Adly el-Quy, Ahly's Marketing Director, denies that the club will sell any of their stars during the current transfer period, stressing that the management of the club is being transparent about this. "If any player gets offers to play as professionals [abroad], the club will say so," says el-Quy, pointing out that the main concern of the club and the players is to ensure the Ahly martyrs get their rights. "We believe that the perpetrators should be justly punished," he explains, adding that they are working hard to ensure the martyrs get their rights. Ahly players ruled out of Pharaohs' ACN match The fateful events in Port Said Stadium have spelled big trouble for Egypt's national teams, which mainly depend on local elements playing in the Premier League, with very few professionals abroad. A number of key Red Devils, led by playmaker Mohamed Abou Treika, Mohamed Barakat, Ahmed Fathi and Emad Mete'b, have stopped playing until the results of the investigations into the Port Said tragedy are announced. There are only three European-based Pharaohs: Mohamed Zidan in the German Premier League (Mainz club), Ahmed el-Mohamadi in the English Premier League (Sunderland club) and Dodi el-Gabbas in the Belgian Premier League (Lierse club). The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has agreed to postpone Egypt's Cup of Nations' qualifier against Central Africa to be held on June 30. The match was due to take place on February 29, but Egypt has asked CAF to postpone the match due to the country's state of mourning following ‘The Massacre of Port Said'.
Saudi clubs request Ahly friendlies in April Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal and El-Nasr clubs have asked Egypt's Ahly administration to play friendlies in April in favour of the Port Said victims. Al-Ahly Club of Qatar also say the Red Devils can play their African Champions League matches in Qatar, after all sports activities in Egypt have been suspended, till the situation improves. Egypt's Al-Ahly are due to play the first game in the African Champions League in March.
