21 sentenced to death for football riots

[Reece]

Egyptian army deployed in Suez after anniversary unrest

Violence erupted in Egypt again on Saturday as at least eight people were killed in protests in Port Said following the verdict for the soccer stadium massacre one year ago. The clashes came as Egypt reeled from deadly protests that killed nine people across the country marking the second anniversary of the January 25 revolution.

A judge announced the death penalty for 21 of the 73 defendants on trial for the Port Said massacre. Clashes in Port Said following the announcement of the verdict left at least five dead and dozens more injured, according to the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram.

Seventy-four people died in riots at a soccer stadium in Port Said on February 1, 2012. Eyewitnesses said police did nothing to stop the melee that broke out between two rival soccer teams and even refused to open the doors to allow people to escape. The massacre was held up as proof of the country’s slide towards anarchy.

Over the past week, the “ultras,” or young soccer hooligans who are often at the head of protest marches and responsible for much of the violence at Egypt’s protests, posted online threats promising to destroy and burn buildings across Cairo if they are unsatisfied with the verdict.

If it is anything less than capital punishment, “the country will burn,” one 19-year-old ‘ultra’ named Ahmed told The Jerusalem Post on Friday in Tahrir Square. “We are angry because we haven’t received our rights… it’s not just a football match, the [Muslim] Brotherhood wants to continue to burn the country to they can continue to rule,” he said. “There’s no justice.”

In the aftermath of clashes on Friday night to mark the two-year anniversary, pundits and politicians focused much attention on a new group of protesters who also could be linked to the ultras: the black bloc. For the first time on Friday, teenagers and young people came out in force dressed head-to-toe in black, many wearing black balaclava ski masks.

The term black bloc began in Germany in the 1970s with a group of anarchists and has been used loosely in a number of other instances since then, including the anti-World Trade Organization protests in Seattle in 1999 and the G20 summit in Toronto in 2010.

In Egypt, members of the black bloc refused to speak to the media. “No one knows anything about them, they appeared three or four days ago,” said Adel, an Arabic literature teacher who saw them in Tahrir on Friday for the first time. “Some people think they are ‘ultras’ but they issued a statement on Friday saying ‘we’re not ultras, we’re not anyone.’” However, some wore ski masks with the insignia of the Ahly soccer team.

Many seasoned activists dismissed the black blocs as angry teenagers looking to stir up trouble who will not have a lasting impact. “We might see a reemergence [in coming protests] but I don’t expect them to hijack the revolution,” said Adel.

“[Are the black bloc] anarchist revolutionaries or 18 year olds who live with their moms & wear black masks thinking life is a video game?” asked one activist sarcastically on Twitter.

[Dexter]

Football used to be fun hobby when I was kid..

[eymas]

Football used to be fun hobby when I was kid..

Help remind me of a day where there wasn't an army of police waiting outside the stadium, complete with horses

[SugarD]

Help remind me of a day where there wasn't an army of police waiting outside the stadium, complete with horses

The last time I saw a lack of such at a stadium was when I was 9 years old, if that.

[Mikal]

Football is shit, and the violent fans it has make it shitter.

[Jellyfish]

It's fun enough to play. Great cardio.

These kids are just trying to stir up trouble and are distracting people from actual issues.

[Mikal]

It's fun enough to play. Great cardio.

These kids are just trying to stir up trouble and are distracting people from actual issues.

Oh yea, I'de play football all day... I just can't stand watching it on TV or supporting a team, football is a good sport, it's ruined by how large it is with all these football teams and hooligans.

[Dolfagr]

Football is in the human DNA, you inherit it from your father most of the times. And football is the king of sports, and yes it does lead to very bad things but so do other sports.

[Mikal]

Football is in the human DNA, you inherit it from your father most of the times. And football is the king of sports, and yes it does lead to very bad things but so do other sports.

Hahahaha, no. Football is a sport which you can choose to play or not, my dad hates football. :poke:

[[WS]Jacob]

I think football gets a bad name just because of it's popularity and as people watch the game and support their team, naturally there are people who want to step over the line and resort to violence.

[SugarD]

I don't like watching or playing American Football too much, but I do love playing traditional Football, (known as Soccer in the United States). Everyone just has their personal preferences. To some, it's a choice of fun or dislike, and for others it seems like it's their entire life because they love it so much. For me, I just enjoy playing from time to time and nothing more.

No two people are alike, unfortunately...and when you get a large group of those who are similar together, and one comes up with a crazy idea they all agree with, strange things are bound to happen.

[Alan.Wake]

Truth is... Sugar likes to LARP.

[[WS]Jacob]

when you get a large group of those who are similar together, and one comes up with a crazy idea they all agree with, strange things are bound to happen.

London 2011 Riots in a nutshell

[Dolfagr]

my dad hates football. :poke:

and that's why you hate it too, as I said, DNA..

[Alan.Wake]

and that's why you hate it too, as I said, DNA..

Elaborate more please...