Sunderland coach Martin O'Neill has underlined that the English Premier League club totally backs Egyptian winger Ahmed Elmohamdy after Wednesday’s football-related violence in Port Said, Egypt.

The Egyptian League was postponed for indefinite period and sports activities frozen in Egyptian clubs after thousands of Al-Masry fans invaded the pitch following their team's 3-1 victory over Al-Ahly, the resulting violence leaving scores dead and hundreds injured.

The Black Cats manager said the bloody incident was shocking to all Egyptians, so he was eager to stand behind his international winger.

“I spoke to him last night about it. Ahmed's obviously saddened by what's gone on in Egypt,” O'Neill told the British Guardian newspaper Friday.

“It's probably not the right word, but he was astonished. He was pretty appalled by it all,” he added.

The 24-year-old winger earned a permanent stay with Sunderland last summer having initially joined the English club on a season-long loan in 2010.

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