CAIRO: Ahly s Algerian youngster Amir Sayoud says he received death threats from some of his club s players and fans, in the wake of the horrible events that followed Egypt s 1-0 loss to Algeria in Wednesday s World Cup playoff game.
Many Egyptian fans were severely injured after the game when thousands of Algerians ruthlessly chased them in the streets of Sudan with knives, daggers and blades.
Afterwards, Egyptian protesters staged aggressive demonstrations near the Algerian embassy in Egypt, calling for its officials’ departure.
Talented playmaker Sayoud revealed that he has also incurred the wrath of the Egyptian public.
After an Ahly training session, I was astonished to see a large number of the club’s fans threatening to kill me, the 19-year-old told Algerian paper Al-Hadaf.
Some internet users on Ahly s official website told me that I should prepare to die.
I also got short messages on my mobile from some of my teammates, telling that they don t want me in Egypt and threatened to kill me too.
Ahly football director Hadi Khashaba advised Sayoud, who is very concerned for his welfare, to stay home till the situation is contained.
However, Sayoud decided to reside at Sporting Arabic Lad Academy for a while to shelter from possible assaults.
The Algerian starlet is understood to have every intention of calling his contract with Ahly null and void to get back to Algeria.
Sayoud s family is worried about his safety, especially his mother whose psychological condition is by far deteriorated, according to Al-Hadaf.
On the other hand, the Algerian authorities called on their Egyptian counterparts to give the teenager the proper protection.
Sayoud made a competitive debut to remember with Ahly in September, and was highly praised by pundits and fans alike.
Late in the same month, the former ES Setif man stressed that his country would outpace Egypt to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Although he was widely expected to blossom at the Cairo club, Sayoud s future with Ahly could well come to an end in the near future.
