CAIRO - The interim head of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has held a meeting with Ministry of Interior officials, in order to settle the fate of the Egypt Cup, suggesting that it be held from April 26 to May 29 behind closed doors, Egypt's official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported. "Anwar Saleh, EFA interim head, has discussed the fate of the Egypt Cup, in light of the financial crisis most Egyptian clubs are suffering from – they are afraid of going bankrupt," Azmi Megahed, the EFA spokesman said, stressing that EFA is waiting for the final decision of the security authorities. According to Azmi, the Ministry of Interior will decide this week, in co-ordination with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). Early in March, the EFA cancelled the Premier League 2011-12 season, deciding to replace it with a friendly tournament called the ‘Martyrs' Cup' and the Egypt Cup, played behind closed doors. But then, in mid-March, the EFA decided to indefinitely suspend the Martyrs' Cup after Al-Ahly and Zamalek Ultras groups threatened to cause trouble in the stadiums, if the tournament and the Egypt Cup went ahead before the perpetrators of the massacre in Port Said were punished. On February 1, in the coastal city of Port Said, an Egyptian Premier League match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly turned violent, claiming the lives of at least 74 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 Ahly. The Port Said Criminal Court adjourned, last Tuesday, the trial of 75 people charged with premeditated murder, in the wake of the Port Said violence, to May 5, in order to hear the testimonies of the witnesses. According to EFA official site www.efa.com.eg, EFA officials suggested during the meeting holding the Egypt Cup between April 26 and May 29, with the Armed Forces and the Police securing the stadiums hosting the matches. Ahly have decided to boycott all EFA sports activities and competitions, including Egypt's Cup, having rejected the EFA sanctions on Al-Masry. EFA announced the freezing of the first team of Al-Masry Club of Port Said for two years and a home-play ban lasting three years. The EFA decision excludes Al-Masry's youth and junior teams from the sanctions. The EFA statement added that 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. Megahed stressed that playing the Egypt Cup now is vital, to help the clubs financially. “If it does go ahead, the matches will be played at Cairo International Stadium, Borg al-Arab Stadium, the Military Stadium and el-Geish Stadium,” he added. Meanwhile, Counsellor Hussein Helmi, EFA interim member, said that next month is the last chance for sports activities to resume in the country. "We are waiting for the Ministry of the Interior's answer about playing the Cup," he told GoalFmRadio.Com. “If there is any delay, it won't go ahead.” He added that the Egyptian senior team will start their 2014 World Cup qualifiers in June by hosting Mozambique. A week later, they will play their second game in the group against Guinea away from home, before facing Central Africa in the 2013 ACN qualifiers in mid-June. Helmi also explained that the Olympic team will also be travelling to London to start their preparations for the 2012 London Olympics. "All these official engagements will prevent the national stars from playing in any local competitions," he said, hoping that the Egypt Cup does go ahead, allowing the players to prepare well for the international clashes. El-Geish coach Farouq Gaafar, meanwhile, has told officials that it is vital to play the Egypt Cup, for the sake of Egyptian soccer, MENA reported. "The fact that Ahly Club have made their apologies doesn't mean the Cup should be cancelled," he said, stressing the need for sports activities to resume in the country. Gaafar added that Ahly Club have not suffered from the freezing of sports activities, as the Red Devils are participating in the African Champions League (ACL). "Besides, Ahly have received many offers to play friendlies in the Arab countries," the ex-Zamalek coach added. Mamdouh Abbas, the Chairman of Zamalek Club, has also been pushing officials to play the Egypt Cup soon, even behind closed doors. "It's time to play the Cup; if this tournament is cancelled, the consequences for the sponsors clubs, on the verge of bankruptcy due to the calling off the Premier League in the wake of the Port Said massacre, will be dire," he said in televised remarks. Abbas added that playing the Egypt Cup will help the three clubs participating in the African tournaments to prepare and hopefully make it to the final rounds. "Training and friendlies are not enough, as the trio have got some tough clashes coming up in the next rounds of the African tournaments," he explained. Egyptian giants Ahly, Zamalek and Enppi have all qualified for the round of 16 in the African tournaments. Ahly recently stunned Ethiopian Coffee 3-0 in Cairo at the Military Stadium, behind closed doors, while Zamalek lost 2-1 to Africa Sports of Côte d'Ivoire, but qualified on the away goal rule, in their second-leg matches in the round of 32 of the African Champions League (ACL). The other member of the Egyptian trio engaged in African competitions, the Petroleum side Enppi, also qualified after comfortably defeating Lydia Academic of Burundi 4-1 in the second leg of the African Confederation Cup round of 32.
