The unrest in Egypt continued on Thursday as protests go on following the deaths of 74 football fans during a match at the Port Said stadium.
The intense rivalry between fans of al-Masry and al-Ahly is well known and on Wednesday trouble flared after fans began to invade the pitch at the end of the match. TV footage showed flares being thrown during the match and some say that the violence had been planned.
Egypt is now a country in mourning with some of the funerals being held today. As well as the loss of lives, 1000 people are reported to have been injured in the riot.
In a statement on the FIFA website, President Sebb Blatter has described the riot as a "black day for football". FIFA has also requested that Egyptian authorities provide them with a full report and the Egyptian Football Association has been disbanded following yesterday's deadly riot.
Commenting on the riot, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt, said:
The intense rivalry between fans of al-Masry and al-Ahly is well known and on Wednesday trouble flared after fans began to invade the pitch at the end of the match. TV footage showed flares being thrown during the match and some say that the violence had been planned.
Egypt is now a country in mourning with some of the funerals being held today. As well as the loss of lives, 1000 people are reported to have been injured in the riot.
In a statement on the FIFA website, President Sebb Blatter has described the riot as a "black day for football". FIFA has also requested that Egyptian authorities provide them with a full report and the Egyptian Football Association has been disbanded following yesterday's deadly riot.
Commenting on the riot, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt, said:
“We were deeply shocked and saddened by the scenes of
violence at a football stadium in Port Said last night. Our thoughts are with
the families of those who were injured or lost their lives. We understand that
the Egyptian Parliament is holding an emergency session and Field Marshal
Tantawi has announced three days of national mourning in Egypt."
"We urge the Egyptian authorities to set up a
transparent enquiry to uncover the causes of the tragedy and hold those
responsible to account.”
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