USA Today is reporting that dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured after a soccer riot erupted in an Egyptian stadium, following a match between Al-Ahly and Al-Masry.
Following an unexpected 3-1 victory over al-Ahly, Egypt’s top team, Masry fans flooded on to the field, hurling stones, fireworks and bottles at Ahly players and fans. Live television footage also showed images of a fire in the stadium.
“This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us. There is no movement and no security and no ambulances,” Al Ahly player Mohamed Aboutrika said following the event.
The number of deaths varied from between 25, according to the Nile News Channel, up to 73, according to AFP. It is feared that the death toll could rise due to the number injured.
A medical official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information, says some of the dead were security officers.
According to The Telegraph, there was only a light police presence at the match.
“It is the biggest disaster in Egypt’s soccer history,” Egypt’s deputy health minister said, adding that Egypt’s state prosecutor has ordered an immediate investigation into the causes of the deaths.
Soon after the violence, another scheduled soccer game in Cairo Stadium between the Al-Ismailiya and Zamalek teams was called off in mourning for the violence in Port Said.
Egyptian state TV showed video of sections of the Cairo stadium on fire. The announcer said angry fans of the Zamalek protested the cancellation and set some sections of the stadium on fire.
A video of the horrible riot following the Al-Ahly – Al-Masry soccer match can be seen below:
via USA Today