Zaher to fight Eygpt FA ruling

Deposed Egyptian Football Association President Samir Zaher will contest the Prime Minister’s decision to dissolve the organisation.

Egyptian PM Kamal al-Ganzouri has ordered the FA board to disband in response to the fatal riots that followed Wednesday’s clash between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly.

The violence between sections of the Al-Masry and Al-Ahly support resulted in the deaths of at least 73 people.

An emergency meeting was called by the Egyptian parliament for Thursday morning, during which Al-Ganzouri announced the dismissal of Zaher and his entire senior staff.

The PM also revealed the governor of Port Said province and the region’s police chief have both resigned from their respective positions.

However, Zaher plans to challenge the Egyptian PM’s decision on the grounds government interference in football matters is prohibited by FIFA, meaning Egypt could now be prevented from competing in this year’s Olympic Games.

There have reportedly been accusations from eyewitnesses that riot police present at the ground made no attempt to stop Al-Masry fans as they moved to invade the pitch.

That view was backed up by Al-Ahly midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika, who claimed: “The security forces left us. They did not protect us. A fan just died in the dressing room in front of me.”

Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose has sought to have his contract terminated during a meeting with club president Hassan Hamdi, while players Mohamed Barakat and Emad Meteb have vowed never to play for the team again.

The Egyptian FA’s final act before its dissolution was to indefinitely suspend the Premier League.