Football fans must register before entering stadiums: Egypt FA

Ahmed Abd El Rasoul , Wednesday 11 Nov 2015

EFA Chief Executive reveals new procedures for entering football stadiums ahead of fans anticipated return to the stands

Egypt
File Photo: Football fans before entering stadiums: Egypt (Photo: Al-Ahram)

Football fans will have to go through a new registration system for their anticipated return to the stands, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Tharwat Swailam revealed.

On Monday, the association approved a decision to allow football fans to return to stadiums starting in February 2016, the beginning of the second round of the Egyptian league.

"Fans will be allowed but under certain procedures," Swailam told TEN TV channel early on Wednesday, adding that, "a season identity card will be provided and this will ease up ticketing purchases."

"To acquire the season card, fans will be obligated to register their personal data in coordination with the interior ministry.

"New electronic gates will also be added to stadiums," Swelam said.

Egypt banned crowds from football matches after the Port Said stadium tragedy in February 2012, when over 70 Ahly fans died in post-match violence.

In February 2015, the ban was partially lifted but was then immediately imposed again after another tragedy where 19 Zamalek fans died in a stampede at Cairo's Air Defence stadium.

25,000 fans were recently allowed to back Egypt in the upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifier against Chad on 17 November.

"The new system will be applied starting with the Egypt-Chad match," the EFA Chief Executive concluded.

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