Big-game violence in Egypt
Soccer fans, police clash in Cairo before African league final.
CAIRO — Police used tear gas to disperse rock-throwing fans outside the stadium before the African Champions League final Sunday, an outburst that has heightened fears for a forthcoming World Cup playoff between Egypt and Ghana.
Hundreds of Egyptian soccer fans clashed with the police. Fans, many with no tickets, tried to push their way into the stadium. A police car was damaged and traffic was briefly disrupted outside Arab Contractors Stadium. About 4,000 police officers using armored vehicles were stationed at the venue.
There were no reports of injuries and the game appeared to proceed without problems. Al Ahly extended its record to eight continental titles by beating South Africa’s Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the second leg of the final for a 3-1 total-goals victory.
“The fans were ideal in the stadium,” Deputy Minister of Sport Basel Adel told state TV. “There were some issues in the beginning outside.”
During the game, riot police lined the track, separating Al Ahly’s highly politicized fans and the field. The packed stadium was lit with bright red flares and fireworks from the 54th minute on after Mohamed Aboutrika scored the opening goal.
Abdul Zaher struck for the second goal in the 78th minute and during his celebration appeared to make a four-fingered gesture linked to supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
The Egypt-Ghana game is set for Cairo on Nov. 19, the first international game in the city in two years. Soccer’s governing body, FIFA, ruled the game should be played in the capital despite Ghana’s concerns for the safety of its players, officials and fans. FIFA said it was satisfied with security guarantees by Egyptian authorities.
Sunday’s game was the first major match with spectators in Cairo since February 2012, when violence in Port Said left 74 people dead, mostly Al Ahly fans, and changed the face of Egyptian soccer. The Al Ahly fans were involved in protests that ultimately led to the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak. Since that deadly match, the games mostly have been played without fans and away from Cairo.
After the scuffles outside the stadium, police put up metal bars to organize fans’ access to the bleachers. Fans held tickets in the air and streamed into the 20,000-seat stadium. Fighting started again, prompting police to lob another round of tear gas.
Deputy Police Chief Ezzat Zahran told the private TV station CBC that some fans tried to enter without tickets and tear gas was used to minimize the pushing and shoving outside the stadium.
Before the game, Al Ahly supporters sang for fellow fans who died in the 2012 violence, and they put up a poster in remembrance, with one reading in English “Never Forget.” Aboutrika also wore a T-shirt during the trophy celebrations with the number 72 on it — the number of Ahly supporters thought to have died in Port Said.