(DNE photo)
The Cairo Appeal Court of Urgent Matters postponed the verdict on banning the hardcore football fan groups, ‘ultras’ to the 16 May session.
The lawsuit filed by Zamalek SC chairman Mortada Mansour called for banning the activities of ultras groups and enlisting them as terrorist groups. The lawsuit also accused them of storming the Egyptian Football Association, the headquarters of Al-Ahly football club, and the state security building, as well as plotting to assassinate former sports minster Al-Amry Farouk.
The Cairo Court of Urgent Matters ruled on 27 January that the court lacks jurisdiction in the case, but Mansour appealed against the ruling.
Since Mansour took up Zamalek SC’s chairmanship, there has been an ongoing feud with the club’s ultras group Ultras White Knights (UWK).
On Sunday, the court postponed to 10 May the trial of 21 UWK members on charges of the attempted murder of Mansour.
UWK often refer to Mansour as the “dog of the system”, for his alleged connections to the Egyptian regime.
Mansour was a defendant in the “Battle of the Camel” during the 25 January Revolution, but was acquitted.
UWK members are also standing trial on charges of cooperating with the Muslim Brotherhood to “spread chaos” during the Air Defence Stadium incident, which left at least 20 fans dead.
