Ahli labored to a 1-0 Egyptian Premier League victory over Gaish but appeared in need of the enthusiastic atmosphere the radical fans create inside the stadiums. They scored an early goal via a rare shot from defensive midfielder Hossam Ashour to secure their first league win, having being held to a surprise goalless draw by Police Union in the opener. The defending champions were left satisfied by claiming all three points but felt that something was missing. When Ahli players moved the ball around aimlessly for large parts of the dull affair they expected to hear the crowd's motivational songs that usually cheer them on. However, they could only hear some old-fashioned and sleepy chants which did them no favors. That was because Ultras Ahlawy, a group of ardent Ahli fans, was missing. Ultras Ahlawy decided to boycott Ahli's games in protest at the treatment they get from the Egyptian police after tens of them were injured during a pre-season friendly game. The clashes between the hard-core supporters and police have been rife since renowned TV presenter Ahmed Shobeir accused them of being drug and alcohol addicts. "We greatly miss you (Ultras). Things have been difficult for us since you decided not to attend our games," Ahli midfielder Mohamed Barakat said while looking towards the camera during a live TV show. "The matches have really become tasteless without your presence. You motivate us and strike fear into our opponents." Praised and Criticized Ultras Ahlawy, which laid the cornerstone for supporters of fellow top-flight teams to follow suit, has been praised and criticized alike since it was formed in 2007. Bearing in mind that similar groups in Europe sometimes cause riots, many pundits objected to the idea of imitating the western traditions in that aspect. But when the Ultras began their activities, some of the pundits changed their minds and praised the way those groups spiced the stadiums and modernized the traditional support tools. "They composed new songs and introduced flags of various sizes to support their teams," Al-Shrouk's highly-respected analyst Hassan Al-Mestekawi said. "They brought a new spirit to the stadiums. They invented new ways to cheer their teams."
The fireworks did not help the Ultras cause But the picture did not remain that bright. Shobeir launched a scathing attack on the Ultras groups after crowd troubles marred a league game between Ahli and bitter rivals Ismaili in January 2009. Dozens of seats and fireworks were thrown onto the pitch during an ill-tempered clash in Ismailia. The incidents and Shobeir's stinging criticism of the Ultras made life difficult for them and prompted the police to impose restrictions on their activities. Ideal Chance The police played cat and mouse with Ultras Ahlawy in particular until they found the ideal chance to kill them off following last season's Cairo derby between Ahli and Zamalek. Before kick-off, Ultras Ahlawy displayed a banner that featured England and Zamalek flags, in reference to Zamalek's first owner whom they claim was English during the British occupation of Egypt in the early 1900s. The banner infuriated Zamalek, who accused Ultras Ahlawy of being racist and filed a complaint to the Egyptian FA, which consequently fined the Egyptian champions EGP 5,000. The police then prohibited the fans from carrying any banners, huge flags, drums and several other items and searched them before their entrance to the stadiums. Such restrictions led Ultras Ahlawy, who could not sustain supporting their team without the necessary tools, to boycott Ahli's games and stand firm on their decision despite attempts to bring them back to the stands. "Ultras Ahlawy unanimously decided to expel any member who attended the Gaish game in the Egyptian league," the group said in a statement on its website. "Our decisions are final, no one can violate them." It remains to be seen whether Ultras Ahlawy could reverse that decision when their beloved team host Algeria's JS Kabylie in an anticipated African Champions League clash later this month. Both sides met in a bad-tempered game in Algeria last week that witnessed an ugly brawl at the end. Ahli's bus was also stoned before and after the match. "We need you against Kabylie. Your presence will be essential," Barakat, a fans favorite, said.
