The newly appointed President of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), Anwar Saleh, has revealed that the domestic league will be resumed without fans once the current official investigations of Port Said stadium disaster end. “The league will be resumed behind closed doors, but it all depends on the investigations results. Security is the priority of all Egyptians and if it was achieved the fans will return to the stands gradually,” Saleh explained in an interview with Ahram Sports weekly magazine.
“Resuming the competition is essential for several parties so I think that the clubs will not oppose playing the matches without their supporters,” the new president added.
All domestic football competitions have been suspended following the Port Said tragedy which left 74 Ahly supporters dead and over one thousand injured on 1 February. EFA former president Samir Zaher and members of his board resigned following the incident; and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Sports named Anwar Saleh the new caretaker until elections, a step that was officially approved by FIFA yesterday. Egypt’s national teams have busy schedules in the international scene ahead and, according to Saleh, the Pharaohs are committed to all these engagements.
“Egypt’s national teams will play all their matches as scheduled,” he declared in conclusion.
