CAIRO - The calling off of Egypt's 2011-12 Premier League season and holding instead a friendly tournament of 18 teams, called ‘The Martyrs' Cup' behind closed doors, have been caused much debate on the turf. Egyptian Football Association (EFA) spokesman Azmi Megahed says that there is not enough time to play the remaining games this season. "That is why we have replaced the Premier League with the Martyrs' Cup and Egypt's Cup," Megahed explains. The cancelling of local competition could prove the downfall of the Egyptian clubs, because they have many commitments and obligations, according to some soccer experts and coaches. The clubs have contracts with advertising agencies that pump money into these clubs. Some people are against the decision to cancel the Premier League, as the competition guarantees three main financial sources for the clubs: match ticket revenues, advertisements and TV broadcasting rights. The EFA also on Saturday decided to exclude Al-Masry of Port Said from the tournament, whose draw will be held on March 21, with the clubs being divided into two groups. On February 1, in the coastal city of Port Said, a match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League turned violent, claiming the lives of at least 74 Al-Ahly fans and injuring around 1,000 more. Seconds after the final whistle, thousands of supporters of Port Said team Al-Masry invaded the pitch, hurling bottles and rocks at the fans of Cairo's Al-Ahly. Al-Ahly Club has in principle declared that the first week of every February will be known as ‘Al-Ahly Martyrs' Week'. "Calling off the Premier League signifies an economic and technical hammering, especially as the ‘The Martyrs' Cup' will impractical, as no-one will be enthusiastic or motivated, because the matches will be like friendlies," admits Tareq Yehia, Misr Elmaqasah (MCSD) coach. He suggests that the Martyrs' Cup matches should be played in the presence of just a few fans, to make it easier for the security forces to keep control. "Reducing the number of fans may reduce the chances of violence on the pitch," Yehia argues, explaining that the players, coaches and administrators have all been affected by the suspension. "We are all deeply affected by the Port Said tragedy, but life must go on. How are they [players, coaches and other people] meant to live, if sports stop?” he asks, admitting that the Port Said tragedy was Egypt's worst-ever sporting disaster. This is the tenth time for the Egyptian Premier League to have been cancelled, for different reasons. The previous nine occasions were the seasons 1951-52, 1954-55, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-1970, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1973-74 and 1990-91. Farouq Gaafar, el-Geish coach, says that cancelling the Premier League will have a negative impact on the game in every way. “Rescinding the League will cause Egyptian clubs many technical and financial problems. How are people meant to live?” he asks. According to Amr Wahbi, EFA Marketing Manager, halting the Premier League will cause financial losses of about LE1.2 billion (around $200 million). "This cancellation will also affect the performance of many clubs, which will in turn affect the national teams, as training camps are not enough," says Gaafar, pointing out that the friendly cup will not be the same as the official Premier League. According to recent reports, the cancelling of the Premier League will threaten around six sports TV channels with closure, as well as the loss of many sports investments, estimated to be worth more than LE1 billion (around $166 million), besides the loss of TV advertising. The channels that 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 the Premier League matches. But others agree with the decision to cancel the Premier League, in the light of the Port Said violence. Essam Abdel-Moneim, a soccer expert and EFA ex-President, says that the decision to cancel the Premier League is the right one at present, stressing the dire need for announcing the punishment for Al-Masry club as soon as possible. El-Ameri Farouq, an Al-Ahly board member, agrees. "We are waiting for the results of the investigation into the Port Said events. We cannot think now, until the martyrs get their rights. And, of course, the perpetrators must be punished,” he stresses. Helmi Toulan, the Police Union coach, says that cancelling the Premier League was necessary after the dreadful events in Port Said Stadium. "But, in resuming sporting activities, we mustn't forget Port Said," he adds, explaining that calling off the competition is a good chance for all the players, coaches and clubs to take a break. "It will also give the players the chance to prepare for next season," says Toulan, noting that the Martyrs' Cup should be an official competition and with the same conditions as the Premier League. Assistant Zamalek coach Osama Nabieh believes that the Martyrs' Cup will be a good chance for his side to prepare for their tough African Champions League (ACL) matches. Zamalek technical coach Hassan Shehata said that, after qualifying for the round of 32 of the ACL last week, his team's performance was uninspiring and unsatisfactory. The White Knights defeated the Young Africans of Tanzania 1-0 in the second leg of the round of 64, thanks to a header from striker Ahmed Hossam 'Mido'. The match, played behind closed doors in the Military Stadium Cairo, was the first official game since the Port Said tragedy. Egyptian giants Zamalek had been held to a 1-1 draw by the Young Africans of Tanzania in the first leg in Dar es-Salaam, thanks to a goal from the Young Africans' Hamis Kiiza, with Amr Zaki equalising for the White Knights. Zamalek, the five-time African champions, will now play Africa Sports of Côte d'Ivoire in the round of 32 of the ACL tournament. The first leg will be held in Cairo on March 25 and the second a fortnight later in Côte d'Ivoire. Amer Hussein, the head of the EFA's competition committee, says that 'The Martyrs' Cup' will be a good preparation for the clubs participating in the Egypt's Cup and African tournaments, adding that he deeply regrets the deadly incident in Port Said. “The law must be applied to prevent such violence in future. The winners of the Martyrs' Cup will represent Egypt at the Arab Championship," Hussein explains. The Egypt's Cup will start after the end the Martyrs' Cup ends on May 18. The Egypt's Cup will end on June 30, while the new Premier league will start in mid-August.
