VIDEO: Barcelona mourns Egyptian fans' deaths

Eslam Omar, Sunday 5 Feb 2012

The massacre of football fans during a match in Port Said leaves many in shock: the Spanish giants hold a moment of silence and their fans show their support of Egyptians

Footballers around the world are mourning the death of more than 70 Egyptian fans and more than a thousand injured in clashes after a league game in Port Said stadium between Ahly (Cairo) and Masry (Port Said).

Before their La Liga day-22 match against Real Sociedad, Barcelona players held a minute of silence Saturday night in Camp Nou to mourn the deaths of the Egyptian fans of their beloved sport.

Barcelona clenched that match 2-1.

Poignantly, the fans of the Spanish giants lifted the Egyptian flag in support of the country that is undergoing a revolution. Since the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak last year Egypt has also been witnessing a series of unexplained violence.

Egyptian football fans and other protesters made their voices heard around the interior ministry building, whom they blame for the lack of security at the disastrous match. Security forces attacked protesters, instigating more resistance.

All football activities have been paused for an undefined period, considering the elected Egyptian Football Association was sacked by the government, sparking protests from the FIFA, whose rules state that government shall not interfere in football business. The EFA board resigned, to avoid conflicts – leaving football in Egypt leaderless.

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