The Ultras and Egypt's Expanding Cycle of Violence
The death of Zamalek sports club fans on Sunday has expanded the cycle of violence in Egyptian sports. The last deadly sports event took place in February of 2012, when more than 70 fans of Al-Ahli sports club, Egypt’s most popular football club, were killed in a similar stampede at the Port Said Stadium.
On the third anniversary of the Port Said “massacre”, Al Ahli Ultras wrote on their Facebook page: “Three years have passed since 72 men were martyred. Their memory will always remain in our hearts. Three years without accountability until now. We will neither forget not forgive.”
Since the January 25 uprising in 2011, the relationship between Egypt’s police and sports fans known as Ultras has been very tense. The Ultras led anti-regime protests and were thought to have played a major role in breaking down the police forces on January 28, 2011, leading to the downfall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
Source: www.aljazeera.com