CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s most popular team Al-Ahly has played a match amid intense protests from fans angry at the failure so far to bring to justice perpetrators of a February stadium riot that killed 74 people.
Thousands of riot police and soldiers guarded the stadium in Alexandria on Sunday as Al-Ahly beat ENPPI 2-1 in The First Cup, which pits two top teams in a friendly match. There were no fans in attendance.
Outside the stadium and in the capital Cairo several hundred die-hard Al-Ahly fans known as Ultras protested the game. They are demanding justice for those killed in the stadium riot, most of whom were Al-Ahly supporters.
Egypt’s most popular player and Al-Ahly star Mohamed Abou-Treika boycotted Sunday’s match in solidarity.
