Ultras White Knights, a group of ardent Zamalek supporters, rioted in the streets of Cairo ahead of their side's handball derby against city rivals Ahli on Tuesday. Here is a list of the fiercest sports-related violent incidents in Egypt during the past 50 years. 1-Burned Stadium (football): Zamalek's 2-0 league victory over bitter rivals Ahli in the 1965/1966 season sparked violent incidents in the stands of the winners' stadium Helmi Zamoura. An own goal by Sudanese player Ibrahim Kabir gave Zamalek the lead but it was the second goal which led to the unfortunate incidents. Ahli fans lost their head when Zamalek star Omar Al-Nour doubled his team's advantage as they damaged the stadium before ultimately burning sections of it. The visitors withdrew from the game and the Egyptian FA consequently decided not to hold any match between Ahli and Zamalek at the stadium of either side. 2-League abandoned (football): The 1971-1972 league season was cancelled after despicable crowd trouble spoiled another meeting between Ahli and Zamalek at Cairo International Stadium. The score was 1-1 when Zamalek were awarded a penalty after Ahli keeper Marwan Kanafani, who later became an adviser to late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, fouled striker Ibrahim Al-Desouki inside the area. Kanafani and his teammates surrounded the referee to protest his decision but looked resigned to the fact that the official would not reverse his ruling. Farouk Gaafar stepped up to convert the ensuing penalty and put Zamalek in front but the team were not given a chance to celebrate. Ahli supporters, infuriated by the referee's penalty decision, invaded the pitch after smashing the fence which separates them from the field. The match was cancelled and the riots prompted the Egyptian FA to abandon the league. 3-Egypt V Algeria (football): Egypt defeated North African rivals Algeria 1-0 at home in the qualifiers of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games but the match was marred by an ugly scuffle. A free-for-all suddenly erupted when an Algerian player was receiving treatment on the pitch as both sides exchanged punches and kicks. Military police rushed onto the pitch to restore order following the mass brawl. 4-Fan on fire (basketball): Four extreme Ahli supporters chased a Zamalek fan ahead of a basketball meeting between both teams in 2008. He couldn't escape as they set fire to him after setting off some dangerous fireworks. The incident attracted huge media attention and the four were arrested few days later. The fan survived death but the authorities decided to hold the Ahli-Zamalek basketball clashes behind closed doors. 5-Street riots (handball): Hundreds of Zamalek fans marched through the streets of Cairo ahead of their side's handball game against Ahli in September 2010 in what is known as the 'ultras cortege'. They destroyed many cars in the Zamalek and Mohandessin districts and encroached into the premises of Ahli after smashing its gate in an unprecedented violent act. Ahli fans decided to retaliate by going to Zamalek's headquarters to start a whole new brawl that lasted for around 30 minutes The crowds dispersed only when security forces stepped in after many people were injured.
