Riot policemen take their positions in front of fans of Egypt's Al-Ahly, known as "Ultras", during the team's African Super Cup soccer match against Tunisia's CS Sfaxien at Cairo Stadium February 20, 2014 (Reuters)
The ban on crowds attending domestic football games in Egypt will continue into the beginning of the second half of the season, contradicting recent speculations that the ban would be lifted by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA).
The ban, imposed after the deadly 2012 clashes at Port Said Stadium that claimed the lives of dozens of people, was expected to be lifted in February 2016 with the beginning of the second half of the domestic league season.
However, following a meeting between EFA and security officials, it was decided that domestic games will remain behind closed doors until authorities re-consider the issue.
The crowd ban was partially lifted in February this year. However, the death 20 Zamalek fans in a stampede caused by police teargas at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo prompted a renewal of the ban.
Meanwhile, the Cairo and Air Defense stadiums will once again start hosting matches after Ahly and Zamalek played the majority of their home games at Petrosport Stadium last season.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: