Terrible news out of Egypt as the public prosecutor’s office has confirmed that 22 fans were killed and many others injured after clashing with security forces before an Egyptian Premier League match.
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Supporters crowded the gates of Air Defense Stadium in Cairo leading up to a match between Zamalek and and Enppi. Officials have said that many fans tried to storm the stadium, causing police and security forces to act.
From NBC News:Security sources said police used tear gas in the operation.
Twenty were injured, the health ministry said.
“Huge numbers of Zamalek club fans came to Air Defense Stadium to attend the match ... and tried to storm the stadium gates by force, which prompted the troops to prevent them from continuing the assault on the stadium facilities,” interior ministry said in a statement without giving more details.
This is not the first time Egyptian football has had tragedy strike, as more than 70 people were killed in a riot at Port Said Stadium in 2012, one of the deadliest sports riots in history. After the Port Said riots, play in the Egyptian Premier League was suspended for two seasons.
It’s always terrible when news like this overshadows the sport we all love, and the Egyptian FA will have to take action to try and prevent incidents like this from happening again.
