(Photo Public Domain)
At least 22 fans were killed in violence between security forces and Zamalek supporters, while the club’s hardcore Ultras White Knights (UWK) fan group claimed the number of victims is 28.
The match between Zamalek and ENPPI was due to start at 7.30pm. At approximately 6pm, UWK announced that security forces deployed at the stadium initiated violence by firing tear gas into the crowding fans at the gates.
Half an hour later, the group announced there were reports of causalities. The ultras later explained that a metal gate surrounded by barbed wire, that only allowed one person in at a time, was the only entrance designated for the fans to enter the stadium.
They said that when the fans started to crowd at the gate, security forces started to fire tear gas and bird shots.
One hour later, the group announced five fans were killed, whilst approximately two hours later, the number had increased to 20.
The group described what happened as “a deliberate massacre, premeditated murder…a planned conspiracy”, accusing security forces and the club’s president Mortada Mansour of being behind the violence.
They accused Mansour of buying out all the tickets before the match to allow security forces to deal with ticketless fans.
Authorities announced before the match that only 10,000 fans will be allowed in. However, only 5,000 tickets were available for sale, and the rest were set to be invites distributed by the club to its subscribing members.
Media reports said Mansour decided on Thursday to turn all the tickets to invites, although there were eventually tickets available for sale to the fans before the match.
The Ministry of Interior said that “large numbers of ticketless fans tried to storm the stadium, which caused security forces to prevent them from damaging the stadium facilities”, according to their official statement.
“At around 6pm, the numbers of ticketless fans outside the stadium increased and topped 10,000, who crowded to storm the stadium and tried to climb its walls, trying to go in. Their attempts resulted in scores of injuries,” the ministry’s statement read.
The prosecution ordered the arrest of UWK leaders for being behind violence erupted at the gates, according to state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram.
