Cairo Stadium's security staff fully concentrated on guarding Esperance's spectators without paying minimal attention to several signs that the away fans had a tendency to cause unrest in Ahli's 2-1 win. The CAF Champions League match was tarnished by some appalling incidents in the visitors' stands, when a host of hooligans ripped up seats and let off illegal flares in the second period. TV cameras also caught a dozen of them ruthlessly beating up one steward, before jumping another for trying to drag away his hurt and helpless colleague. Both men were later hospitalized after reportedly sustaining severe injuries and multiple fractures, and now are understood to be on the road to recovery. Following the ill-tempered clash, Cairo Stadium manager Abdul-Aziz Amin was keen to stress that Esperance's spectators were 'respectfully treated' and 'well protected' before and after the game. But on the other hand, he admitted that from the moment the Tunisian side's supporters passed through the stadium's gate, they seemed to be anything but law-abiding individuals. Flares & Alcohol "Female supporters hid flares in sensitive places of their bodies. The security men decided to let them pass because we didn't want anyone to say we crossed the line," Amin said to Modern TV. Apart from smuggling fireworks, which are prohibited inside Egyptian stadiums, Amin revealed that all Esperance's spectators were under the influence of alcohol. "I also would like to stress that they were all drunk," he added. Although the visiting supporters came across as troublemakers before the match got underway, no considerable precautions to avoid possible riots were taken.
Sadek has been banned for criticizing the interior ministry And evidently, the unfortunate security personnel paid the price, not to mention EGP 150,000 worth of damages at Cairo Stadium. The ugly assault on both men sparked outrage in Egypt, with a handful of pundits wondering why they were left vulnerable to the intoxicated hooligans' attacks. "The security officers shoulder all the blame for that," renowned TV presenter Alaa Sadek said during his show on Nile Sports, before he was banned for his statements. "They left the man (one of the two stewards) alone facing hungry tigers who were eager to prey him. "(Interior minister) Mr. (Habib) Al-Adli needs to apologize to the man and millions of Egyptians who were deeply affected by what happened from Esperance fans." Deterrent to Violence Required In the wake of the vicious beating, Ahli urged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to plot a new security strategy in order to keep football fanatics at bay during important games. "Ahli warned CAF against the ill-effects of silence over the violent acts of some fans," Ahli's general manager Muharram Al-Ragheb said on the club's official website. "The rioters should be dealt with everywhere. The mere fines are no longer useful, they failed to deter those people's violence. "The club does not mean to complain against Esperance but it just wants to set the alarm bells ringing to underline the importance of tackling the problem of football hooliganism. "Our relationship with all Tunisian clubs is very warm and prevails against any problems."
