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The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has informed clubs of the dates and times of matches scheduled for weeks 17 and 18 of the Egyptian Premier League, despite an earlier announcement that the matches would be delayed for an indefinite period due to security concerns.
The extraordinary season was frozen as the national teams are currently competing in the African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Egypt have won their matches against Zimbabwe and Mozambique, to top Group G with a maximum 15 points and securing a qualification to the knock-out stage.
The decision came out after days of speculations that the whole season is under threaten of being cancelled for security concerns due to the turbulent political situation. Nationwide anti-government protests have been planned for 30 June, with some predicting violence.
Moreover, Ahly and Zamalek's hardcore fans, the Ultras Ahlawy (UA-07) and the Ultras White Knights (UWK), have demanded that the audience ban on their team's matches be lifted, and they be allowed to attend their teams' matches starting with Ahly-Gouna match in week 17. The fan groups have threatened to storm the stadium if the ban isn't lifted.
Crowds have not been allowed to attend football games in Egypt since February 2012, when post-match violence between Ahly and Masry fans left more than 70 dead. The resulting prosecutions saw Masry officials given prison sentences and dozens of Masry fans sentenced to death.
After a year of suspension, a two-group format tournament kicked-off, in which Ahly, Zamalek, Ismaily and either ENPPI or Smouha will play a mini-league round with only home fixtures that will determine the champion.
In week 17, Zamalek had been scheduled to face Ismaily on Thursday but EFA delayed the clash until Sunday.
Check the dates and timings of week 17 fixtures here.
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