Egypt court upholds death sentences for football rioters News

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Egypt court upholds death sentences for football rioters

By Daily Sports on February 22, 2017

Egypt’s highest court has upheld the death sentences handed down to 10 men at the centre of a football riot in February 2012 in which over 70 people were killed.

The incident occurred at the Port Said Stadium and saw many Al Ahly fans crushed while trying to flee from a post-match pitch invasion by supporters of the home side Al Masry. Several were also killed by being stabbed or thrown from the terraces.

According to World Soccer, the verdict, which also upheld a lower court’s sentencing of 10 men to 15 years in jail, 14 men to 10 years, and 15 men to five years, cannot be appealed. The charges included murder and attempted murder.

The Port Said incident was linked to the ‘Arab Spring’ uprising which saw the Egyptian public overthrow former leader Hosni Mubarak.

The Egyptian FA has restricted the number of fans at top level football matches in the country since the 2012 incident. (mtnfootball.com)

•Photo shows a cross section of Egyptian football fans.

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 22, 2017