Cairo: Egyptian authorities have allowed fans to attend Premier League matches for the first time in three years since the country’s deadliest soccer disaster.
The step took effect on Wednesday, marking the commencement of the second part of this competition season.
The Egyptian Premier League, Egypt’s top soccer tournament, was temporarily halted in the aftermath of a pitch invasion in the coastal city of Port Saeed following a match between the hometown’s team Al Masry and their Cairo-based opponents Al Ahly in February 2012. Seventy-four people were killed in the incident.
When the competition resumed, the matches were held behind closed doors.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the lifting of the ban this week after talks with the Interior Ministry, which is in charge of security in Egypt.
The association vowed tough penalties for clubs whose fans are found guilty of rioting.
A Wednesday match between the League’s competitors Wadi Dejla and Petroject saw an assault on the game’s referee over alleged umpiring blunders. The assault was reportedly carried out by a member of Wadi Dejla’s coaching staff and a fan after the final whistle was blown. The match ended 2-1 for Petroject.
There was no immediate reaction from the EFA.
The reversal of the ban on spectators is aimed at projecting an image of stability in Egypt, which was roiled by street turmoil following the 2011 uprising against long-serving president Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt has also seen a spate of deadly attacks mainly against security forces since the army’s 2013 overthrow of Islamist president Mohammad Mursi following enormous street protests against his rule.
