Protesters claim ‘covert attack by Egyptian security forces’ in deadly soccer riot

Protesters descended on the Egyptian Defense Ministry in Cairo today claiming that government forces were largely responsible for 74 deaths during a soccer riot on Wednesday. Violence erupted at Port Said stadium after the home team, Al-Masry, beat Cairo’s Al-Ahly, with an estimated 13,000 fans storming pitch armed with knives and machetes. But some are saying that the riot was orchestrated by forces loyal to ousted president Hosni Mubarak, perhaps as retaliation for the political uprising that occurred almost exactly one year ago.

What we know of the details so far is that crowds from the home end (al-Masry supporters) charged onto the pitch chasing and attacking Al-Ahly players and fans. In the ensuing chaos, scores died. The majority seem to have been trampled as they ran for an exit door which was bolted shut. Others fell or were thrown from the terraces. Some were killed as a result of direct attacks. According to reports, the security forces were at a loss to intervene.

The recriminations have already begun. Were the police criminally negligent? Did they callously allow the riot to happen; or maybe some elements in the crowd deliberately instigated the violence? Protests led by al-Ahly Ultras, with support from their great rivals Zamalek, have already taken place today, demanding retribution and calling for the downfall of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (Scaf) and Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi.

Whatever emerges in the following days – the country’s Football Association has already been dissolved; tear gas fired at protesters … There have already been calls for a Fifa inquiry

Other reports claim that the violence was due to the fact that Egypt’s radical soccer fans (or ultras), who were once united against Mubarak, are now turning on each other since Mubarak is gone.

Al-Masry fans arrived back in Cairo today by train, including many injured and some of the bodies of the dead, making for some pretty dramatic photos.

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Chaos in Cairo as injured football fans arrive at train station after ‘covert attack by Egyptian security forces’ left 74 dead and 1,000 wounded in stadium riot [Daily Mail]
The fight over the Port Said football narrative has already begun [The Independent]