(AFP File Photo)
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced Sunday that Egyptian fans will be allowed to attend matches starting from the second part of the Egyptian Premier League.
The decision to allow fans back into stadiums follows approval from the Ministry of Interior.
In a Sunday statement, the association mentioned that “security forces allowed 10,000 fans to attend matches held at Cairo Stadium, the Air Defence Stadium, Al- Makwlon Al-Arab Stadium and Borg El-Arab Stadium, while 5,000 fans will be allowed in other stadiums.”
Officials at the association vowed to apply new strategies to ensure that fans are “disciplined” during the games.
The Port Said massacre occurred in February 2012, and resulted in the deaths of 74 Al-Ahly supporters. Following the tragedy, the majority of football games in Egypt have been played behind closed doors, and included a blanket ban on attending all league matches.
The highest fan attendance took place on 6 December, when the Ministry of Interior approved the attendance of 25,000 supporters at the latest Al-Ahly game in the African Confederation Cup against Ivory Coast’s Séwé Sport Club.
The match was heavily attended by riot police and the Special Forces in anticipation of clashes with hardcore Al-Ahly fans, the Ultras Ahlawy (UA). The group is renowned for its choreographic displays, which include the use of fireworks.
The association often fines football clubs if their fan base is caught using fireworks in the stadium. The pyrotechnics display is organised by Ultras members to greet team members upon the start of the game.
Since its creation in 2007, Ultras Ahlawy has engaged in numerous brawls and clashes with police forces. The Ultras became known for their anti-military and anti-government slogans and played a key role in the 25 January Revolution.
