Several thousand members of the Ultras Ahlawy, committed fans of Ahly Football Club, marched Saturday from the Ahly Club headquarters in Cairo's Zamalek district heading to the Supreme Court in downtown Cairo, demanding the release of their fellow members detained 13 October after clashes with security forces at Cairo International Airport.

The march lasted for a couple of hours before the football fans decided to leave waiting for the appeal case.

Twenty five members of the Ultras group were arrested in the wake of the clashes, detained on charges of attempted murder and assault on security forces.

"Ultras are not criminals" the young demonstrators chanted carrying a banner reading "Freedom to all Ultras" and waving the red flags of Ahly Club.  

The die-hard football fan group had gone to Cairo International Airport to receive Ahly Club's handball team upon its return from Tunisia, after losing in the African Cup final.

Clashes erupted following an attempt by the group to storm an airport terminal after being prevented from entry, according to airport security. Eleven police personnel and two airport workers were injured in the violence, some of them by bird shot.

Ultras groups have often clashed with police during demonstrations and football matches, with many members arrested, injured and killed over the last two and a half years.