Africain-Zamalek wounds healed, investigations proceed
Ahmed Abd El Rasoul, Wednesday 6 Apr 2011
The president of Tunisia’s Club Africain, Jamal Al-Amrousy says Saturday's riots at Cairo stadium will not affect the relationship between the two countries and welcomes the suggestion of returning to Egypt to play Zamalek again


Tunisia’s Club Africain president, Jamal Al-Amrousy reassured everyone that the recent riots at Cairo stadium will not affect the two countries’ relationship, and welcomed the idea of playing Zamalek in a friendly game in Egypt soon.

“I want all of us to forget this matter as Zamalek officials did their best to make this match successful and secure, and after the great reception we received in Cairo,” Al-Amrousy said in a press conference on Tuesday, attended by Egypt’s ambassador to Tunisia, Ahmed Ismail.

Thousands of angry Zamalek fans invaded the pitch in injury time, and attacked the referee and Club Africain players, as their team was on the verge of elimination from round 32 of the CAF Champions League.

“We know that Egypt shares the same vulnerable conditions with Tunisia after our successful revolutions. Those few rioters, surely, do not represent Egyptians.

“I want to thank Zamalek players again for protecting us. I like the idea of playing a friendly with the Cairo giants soon, and we hope to return to play in Egypt again,” he concluded.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to take any action after announcing that an investigative committee will meet on 19 and 20 April to penalise the Egyptian side for violence against Tunisian players and referees.

The Egyptian government apologised officially to its Tunisian counterpart, which was also reiterated by Zamalek and football officials in Egypt.

“I want to reaffirm our apology to our brothers in Tunisia. Also I want to thank the Tunisian media for handling the matter wisely,” declared Egypt’s ambassador, Ahmed Ismail.

“We are responsible and an investigation is being conducted concerning the rioting and we guarantee that the culprits will be punished severely,” he promised.

In a related development, the military prosecution is set to summon most of Zamalek club officials, including the president Gala Ibrahim, and twins Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan, on charges of inducing the invaders

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/9470.aspx