CAIRO - Al-Ahly Ultras groups have expressed their anger, rage and dissatisfaction following the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announcing the sanctions against Al-Masry club, describing them as 'unreasonable and ridiculous', and calling for a protest sit-in today outside the EFA headquarter in Gezira, starting at 11am. The EFA on Friday night announced the freezing of the first team of Al-Masry of Port Said club for two years and a home-play ban lasting three years, in the wake of the events that claimed the lives of at least 74 Ahly fans and injured around 1,000 in what is known as the 'Port Said Massacre' on February 1. Seconds after the final whistle, thousands of supporters of the Port Said team Al-Masry invaded the pitch, throwing bottles and rocks at Cairo Al-Ahly fans. The EFA decision excludes Al-Masry's youth and junior teams from the sanctions. The EFA statement added that Al-Ahly club will have to play four matches behind closed doors, while the team's technical coach, Manuel José da Silva, and team captain Hossam Ghali will be suspended for four years and each fined LE5,000 (around $830) for bad behaviour. On their Facebook page they described the decision as 'ridiculous', one which ignores the martyrs' rights, announcing several steps in response to these 'unreasonable' sanctions. "Firstly, we will start a sit-in outside the EFA headquarters on Sunday at 11am," the group said on its Facebook page. "Secondly, we want a private, urgent trial for all responsible for the Port Said massacre, whatever their position or authority," they added. The Ultras groups also urged the freezing of all the sports activities of Al-Masry club of Port Said for three years, including the youth and junior teams. Nine days ago, Egypt's Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud referred 75 suspects to the criminal court in the wake of the violence that left more than 70 Ahly fans dead. The defendants include nine officers, and three officials and fans of Al-Masry club. Two minors will be referred to the juvenile court. The Prosecutor-General statement also recommended the installation of surveillance cameras in football stadiums nationwide, to monitor all the stadiums' approaches and the entire internal and external areas. In the wake of the Port Said tragedy nearly two months ago, the Egyptian Premier League was postponed and then cancelled, with most soccer clubs suspending all their sporting activities and declaring 40 days of mourning. The Ultras groups reiterated their opposition to Premier League matches resuming, until the martyrs have been given all their rights. They finally called upon all the martyrs' families and all Ultras to participate in the sit-in, until their demands are met. Al-Ahly had the first Ultras fan group in Egypt, the Ahly Fan Club. In 2007 the group split into two big Ultras groups, Ultras Ahlawy (UA07) and Ultras Devils (UD07). Ultras Ahlawy are based in Cairo, while Ultras Devils are in Alexandria and have members in other coastal cities. Ultras Ahlawy mostly consists of well-educated graduates and young people of every social class. El-Badri Farghali, a Member of Parliament for Port Said, rejected the EFA sanctions on Al-Masry club, stressing that the club will appeal to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the world governing body of soccer. "We will fill a case at the administrative court to stop these unjust sanctions," Farghali added. Al-Ahly club, meanwhile, refused to comment on the sanctions, declared on its official website that they will hold an emergency board meeting on Monday to discuss the EFA sanctions, then issue the appropriate decisions to defend and safeguard the rights of the club and its fans.
