Ahly players released a statement on Tuesday pledging their continued support for the "Port Said martyrs," while the club's hardcore supporters gathered at the sports ministry in response to Monday's demo by some professional players and supporters calling for a resumption of domestic football competitions.

All domestic competitions were frozen after February's Port Said disaster when more than 70 people died during clashes between Ahly and Masry supporters. Nine senior officers and three Masry officials are among 73 people facing charges in relation to the event. Some of the defendants face murder charges, while the senior officers have been charged with assisting the attackers.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced in early September that the league would start on 17 September. However, it was forced to delay the resumption for one month after the Ultras Ahlawy gathered in their thousands to oppose the holding of the Egypt Super Cup, which was held behind closed doors at the Military Stadium in Alexandria. 

The fans, some of whom have travelled to the sports ministry from outside Cairo, have demanded “justice and martyrs rights” before football competitions resume.

Meanwhile, some Ahly players have issued a statement via the internet to insist they “respect the families' feelings and will never stop demanding justice for the martyrs.”

“We only took part in the Super Cup to help the club and to win the trophy in memory of the martyrs. That’s what we are doing in our bid for the CAF Champions League as well,” the statement said.

The Cairo giants are preparing to fly to Nigeria for Saturday’s semifinal match against Sunshine Stars in the CAF Champions League.

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