CAIRO - Azmi Megahed, the spokesman of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said that EFA will announce the punishment for Al-Masry club in a conference next week, in the wake of the Port Said tragedy. According to some sources at the EFA, the punishment for Al-Masry will include a one-year freeze and being deprived from playing at home for three years. Ahly declared that the first week of every February will be known as ‘Ahly Martyrs' Week'. Megahed added that the EFA has yet to receive Ministry of Interior approval for securing the matches and playing the ‘The Martyrs' Cup'. According to Megahed, the EFA will hold a meeting today with Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim to settle this matter. "If we don't get the necessary approval, we will ask the armed forces to secure the friendly tournament, especially as the matches will be held in four military stadiums: the Military Stadium, el-Geish Stadium, Borg el-Arab Stadium and Haras el-Hedoud Stadium,” he stressed. "The draw for the friendly tournament will be held on March 21 and 18 clubs divided into two groups. The matches will start on March 29, but without the clubs' international players,” he added. EFA adding that the Egypt Cup would be played as scheduled before May 20 but behind closed doors and again without the clubs' international players. Egypt's Prosecutor-General referred 75 people to the criminal court in the wake of the violence that left at least 74 Ahly fans dead. "The defendants include nine officers and three officials and fans of the Al-Masry club. Two minors will be sent to the children's court," the Prosecutor's office announced in a statement. "Even more important is the number of police officers and Al-Masry officials among the defendants," the group added, stressing that this was just the first serious step.
