Posted on 02/01/2012 12:06:39 PM PST by traumer
At least 73 people have been killed in fan clashes following a football match in the Egyptian city of Port Said, state television reports.
The deaths occurred after supporters invaded the pitch following a match between top-tier clubs Masry and al-Ahly on Wednesday.
It is feared the death toll could rise as scores have been injured.
Some of the dead were security officers, the Associated Press quoted a morgue official as saying.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says it appears 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.
Bitter rivalry Television pictures have shown images of crowds descending into the stadium, chasing rival fans and players.
Some were cornered in the stadium, parts of which were set on fire.
Egyptian fans are notoriously violent, says our correspondent, particularly supporters of al-Ahly known as the Ultras.
They have been heavily implicated in the political confrontations recently, our correspondent adds.
Wednesday's violence broke out at the end of the match, which, unusually, the Port Said side Masry won 3-1.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
I understand that many were stoned
Too bad they didn’t have guns.
They have it on Euro News.
They already have rioting in YOU TUBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3p10DiII4k
Nice to see Soccer fan be truth to themselves NOT
FOOSBALL IS THE DEVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At one time these people would be called barbarians but in today’s pc world they are just unemployed yuts!
Soccer is their most favorite sport, right behind killing.
Stupid Muslims.
Super bowl this week end !!!
And I thought Celtic vs Rangers was bad.
Ahhhh.......democracy!
And these wunnerful people will choose their own politicul direkshun.......................
Ahhhh.......democracy!
And these wunnerful people will choose their own politicul direkshun.......................
They must be NY Giants fans.
Mixing the growing Islamic radicalism with soccer hooliganism is a trend one would hate to see.
In Egypt that is how football is supposed to be played.
Slightly off topic, if they are going to insist on calling Soccer “Football”, then we need a new name for OUR American football. You can’t compare American football to soccer (YAWN), and I’d rather not be associated with fans/stories like this one.
If you like soccer, I’m all happy for you, but STOP calling it football.
It’s more football than the sport played in America where only the punter and placekicker use the foot.
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