Yes it will be an unprecedented decision, yes it could cause a major upset in Port-Said and yes it is harsh on many true fans in the city, but it would be best for every one if Masri football club was abolished. No doubt that the dismal security, Port-Said officials and higher authorities deserve most of the blame for the catastrophe that rocked the world of football, let alone Egypt. And it is totally irrational to blame the whole city of Port-Said for the actions of some professional criminals. Yet it is undeniable there is too much blood on the walls of Masri football club. This was evidently fortified with the report of the Fact-Finding Committee, which found Masri guilty, along with security forces, Port-Said officials and the FA. However, thanks to the typical slow-motion style of making decisions in Egypt, it is more than 20 days now and no action has been taken...again this is despite investigation finding Masri guilty. The authorities' ridiculous approach of blacking out until the matter is forgotten encouraged Masri patrons to gradually take a solid defensive stance while talking about ‘resuming training, reuniting the team and reinstalling the board and management'! Now the major concern of most Port-Said citizens is that the 'city is innocent' and that 'Masri shouldn't be punished', with a sense of negligence to the tens of youth who were brutally murdered inside the home stadium of the 'valiant city'. Relegation not enough Simply for the safety of Port-Said fans, relegation is impractical as it would make Masri fans susceptible to any potential confrontation with an angry Ahli contingent in the future. This is apart from the fact that lower-division games are often more intense than the top-flight, the level of security is below-average and venues are more vulnerable to another disaster. A big decision is needed here; a firm verdict free of the middle-solution measures we've been used to in Egypt for quite a while. Suspending Masri club from football for an indefinite period would be a vehement decision that will force fanatic fans to forget the game that turned from a beautiful sport into an obsession for them. Eliminating Masri from the map of Egyptian football will relatively be a satisfying retribution for the devastated Ahli, who possess the largest fan base in the Middle East. It would ensure that the ominous Masri-Ahli clash, even in youth games, will not take place in the near future and will thus relieve millions of football fans from the anxiety of anticipating another unthinkable massacre. The absurd notion of dividing Egyptians into 'Ahlawy and Masrawy' would be dismissed, while the residents of Port-Said will regain respect as normal citizens, rather than being considered outsiders by many judgmental people. In other words, Port-Said is definitely more important than Masri. Residents of the coastal city shouldn't be paying for the sake of a football club. The big decision will also be a stern warning to every club in Egypt, eventually prompting fans to reconsider the ‘habit' of invading pitches; a scene that blemished Egyptian football games on more than four occasions in 10 months. “What happened was an extraordinary incident which has no sporting rules designed to act against. Therefore the action must be extraordinary,” said Ahli football director Sayed Abdul-Hafiz. Who should make the decision? I can't see such a brave verdict coming from the feeble Egyptian authorities, and even if it happened, it is understood that FIFA will not be satisfied with the government interference. It also must be said that there is no association in charge of football matters to make the big call. That's why the best solution for a fair and unwavering decision is that FIFA itself makes the call and this could be achieved through an official request to the world football governing body. Indecisive sanctions like a ‘heavy fine, a stadium ban and outside Port-Said' would have a devastating potential impact on Egyptian football, and maybe on the whole nation.
