At least 74 people have been killed in clashes between rival fans
following a football match in the Egyptian city of Port Said. Scores were injured as
fans - reportedly armed with knives - invaded the pitch after a match between
top-tier clubs al-Masry and al-Ahly.
Officials fear the death
toll could rise further.
It is the biggest
disaster in the country's football history, said the Egyptian deputy health
minister. "This is
unfortunate and deeply saddening," Hesham Sheiha told state television.
Some of the dead were security officers, the Associated Press news
agency quoted a morgue official as saying.The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says it appears some fans had taken
knives into the stadium.
Our correspondent says the lack of the usual level of security in
the stadium might have contributed to the clashes.Police in Egypt have been keeping a much lower profile since last
year's popular protests that ousted President Hosni Mubarak from power.Egyptian fans are notoriously violent, says our correspondent,
particularly supporters of al-Ahly known as the Ultras.
They have been heavily implicated in confronting the police during
recent political protests, our correspondent adds. There is speculation that
the security forces may have had an interest in taking on al-Ahly supporters.
'Black day'
Wednesday's violence broke out at the end of the match, which,
unusually, Port Said side al-Masry won 3-1. Witnesses said the atmosphere had been tense throughout the match
- since an al-Ahly fan raised a banner insulting supporters of the home team. As the match ended,
their fans flooded onto the pitch attacking Ahly players and fans. A small group of riot
police tried to protect the players, but were overwhelmed. Part of the stadium was
set on fire.Officials say most of
the deaths were caused by concussions, deep cuts to the heads and suffocation
from the stampede.
"This is not
football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us," al-Ahly
player Mohamed Abo Treika said. Hani Seddik, who played
for al-Ahly as a teenager, told the BBC: "I don't think this is about
football. These |