Football’s deadliest rivalry plays out peacefully in Al Ain
One of the deepest scars in Egyptian football began to heal when Al Ahly and Al Masry faced each other for the first time in front of fans since a stadium riot that left more than 70 dead in 2012.
The match, which ended with a 1-0 win for Al Ahly in extra time, was held on Friday at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain, where 23,739 gathered to watch the Egyptian Super Cup match.
In February 2012, 74 people were killed in clashes between fans after a match between the top-tier clubs in Port Said.
Egyptian Ahmed Jamal, 33, an Al Masry fan, said some insults were traded at times but there was no trouble.
“The tragedy that happened in 2012 is attributed to chaos, lack of security following the January 25 revolution, and fans exchanging insults that led fans of both teams to a moment of insanity,” said Mr Jamal, a sales manager in Abu Dhabi.
Ihab Saleem, 30, an Al Ahly supporter, said: “I watched the match that took place in Egypt, where dozens of people were killed. Some of the people who were killed in the match were my friends and colleagues in the university.”
Mr Saleem, who works in marketing and has lived in the UAE for six years, said: “The organisation of the match and security measures are extremely different from those in Egypt. Fans of Al Ahly team are sitting and communicating with Al Masry fans.
“This would never happen in Egypt. If the same football match took place in Egypt, there would be a chance for fans to get involved in a fight.”
Abu Dhabi Police called on fans to be civilised.
Hamdi Imam, 25, an Al Masry fan, said: “The horrors of the Port Said match are seared into the collective consciousness of Egyptian football fans. But we want to turn a new page in the history of Egyptian football.”