Presidential hopeful Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh visited the Ultras Ahlawy at their sit-in outside the People’s Assembly Thursday morning, stressing their right to protest and encouraging them to keep the demonstration peaceful.
The devoted fans of Cairo’s leading Ahly football team have staged a sit-in for five days outside the People's Assembly. They are protesting what they say are weak sanctions against Port Said’s Masry club and to demand harsh punishment for the perpetrators of the Port Said football violence on 1 February, during which 74 people, mostly Ahly fans, were killed.
The violence stoked ultras and activists’ fury over the security failures of Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri’s cabinet and the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
On Saturday, the Egyptian Football Association punished Masry by freezing its football activities for two years and closing the Port Said Stadium for three years. Ahly fans said the penalties are insufficient.
Leaked reports of the football association’s decision fueled anger among Masry fans, who clashed with security forces in Port Said on Friday, during which one person was killed.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
