Egypt’s Supreme Committee for the Management of the Coronavirus Crisis has halted all amateur sports activities in open or closed places during the holy month of Ramadan.
The move means that this is the second Ramadan without amateur football tournaments across the country. These tournaments have received very great attention from both teams and fans, as they are seen as entertainment away from the official leagues.
Usually, the teams participating in such tournaments consist of amateur players, but some organisers have allowed the participation of professional players to add more strength and excitement to their matches.
Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, issued strict instructions to local directorates, to closely monitor youth centres and open playgrounds to ensure commitment to the decision.
The Minister stressed that the state will strictly apply those precautionary measures that must be followed during the month of Ramadan. These precautions have been put in place to protect the health and safety of citizens, especially with regard to wearing face masks among crowds. It has been noted that the state does not tolerate those who violate these instructions and decisions.
Youth and Sports directorates across the country formed inspection committees to monitor youth and sports facilities during Ramadan, and are submitting periodic reports to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
On the other hand, a number of youth centres are currently suffering financial issues, due to the pandemic. They had placed great hopes on these tournaments to haul themselves out of these financial difficulties.
