Ghazl El-Mahalla's hardcore football fans stormed the team's stadium on Friday to protest against a poor Egyptian Premier League run that leaves them facing the prospect of relegation to the second division.

Tens of the angry supporters interrupted El-Mahalla's training session, chanting against the club's board of directors and calling for the sacking of the technical staff.

They also beat up a Mahalla assistant coach before police intervened to contain the situation, according to Ahram's Arabic-language news website. Shortly after, coach Ibrahim Youssef had his resignation accepted by the club's board.

The protest came few days after the team extended their winless run to four games following a 1-0 defeat by ENPPI. They lie seventh in the nine-team Group with nine points, just one above the danger zone.

El-Mahalla are managed by a famous textile company in the industrial city, which is owned by the government.

They won the league once in 1973 and reached the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs, the old version of the elite Champions League, one year later.

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