Soccer games across the world have broken out in violence due to the result but things took an even deadlier turn in Egypt before the match even started thanks to a stadium riot. Over 20 people were left dead on Sunday night when fans outside an overflowing soccer match clashed with police.
State media reported that only 5,000 tickets were made available for sale to the public for Sunday evenings match between Zamalek and ENPPI at the 30,000-capacity Air Defense Stadium in the east of the capital, but thousands of ticketless Zamalek fans reportedly tried to gain entry anyway.
The interior ministry said they had “attempted to storm the stadium gates by force, which prompted police to prevent them from continuing the assault”, setting off a deadly stampede.
The police used tear gas to stop fans trying to force their way in but it only worsened the issue. Some fans choked and died from asphyxiation, while the rest died from being trampled.
There were conflicting reports about the number killed at Air Defense Stadium east of Cairo.
The Associated Press, citing two unidentified security officials, put the toll at 25. The health ministry reported 19 were killed and 20 injured, Reuters said, while the prosecutor’s office put the number of dead at 22 and ordered an investigation.
The Egyptian authorities have suspended football league matches indefinitely.
