The Port Said Criminal Court, convened inside Cairo's police academy for security reasons, postponed until 18 December the retrial of 11 die-hard football fans from Al-Masry club convicted of premeditated murder.

The postponement, announced on Tuesday, was ruled in order to allow the testimony of additional witnesses and to ensure the presence of two absent defendants.

The 11 Ultras, a nickname for hard-core football fans, were handed sentences in absentia ranging from 15 years to life in January. The defendants were granted a retrial after turning themselves in to police in September.

On 2 February 2012, over 70 Ahly football fans were killed at Port Said stadium in clashes following an Ahly versus Masry Premier League match.

On 26 January 2013, Port Said criminal court sentenced 21 out of 73 defendants to death for their involvement in the football riots.

The sentences of the remaining defendants were announced in a new ruling on 9 March. The ruling confirmed the 21 death sentences issued in January. 24 other defendants, among them two policemen, were handed sentences ranging from 1 year to life in prison. Twenty-eight other defendants, among them seven security officials, were acquitted.