Egypt a no-go zone

With Orlando Pirates set to take on Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek in the African Champions League in the coming months, Egyptian football was plunged into more chaos this week when the domestic league competition was postponed indefinitely.

It means that the Egyptian pair might have no competitive football between now and the start of the African Champions League and, worse still, might be forced to take their home matches with Pirates outside the country.

Egyptian security forces have refused to police football matches for fear of a repeat of the deaths that have left a stain on the game in the country over the past 18 months.

Domestic matches are supposed to be played behind closed doors, but Al Ahly and Zamalek, as well as other top sides Ismaily and Ittihad, have had fans in the stadium in the past week - against the instructions of the football association.

While security forces were present at the matches, they did not stop the supporters entering the venue for fear of violent clashes, but now say they will take no part in the remainder of the league campaign, forcing the football association to abandon fixtures until a resolution can be sought.

The clubs were also warned that they would lose the points from these games if they continued, but in the end have received only a R150000 fine each.

There was one round of matches remaining in the regular season, with the play-offs then to decide the champions from the new two-pool system in the domestic game that has so far kept bitter rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek apart.

If the teams cannot provide adequate security, even for matches played behind closed doors, it is hard to see how the Confederation of African Football could ask the Buccaneers to play in Cairo - or anywhere else in Egypt.

Matches in the Egyptian domestic league are supposed to be played behind closed doors after the Port Said Massacre in February 2012 when 79 people died as fans of the Al Masry club went on the rampage and used knives, swords, clubs and stones to murder members of the security forces and Al Ahly fans.

The massacre was politically motivated as Al Ahly's Ultras were said to be behind the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarak. The country remains tense.

PIRATES' FIXTURES

July 20

Orlando: vs AC Leopards (Congo)

August 3

Away: vs Al Ahly (Egypt)

August 17

Orlando: vs Zamalek (Egypt)

August 31

Away: vs Zamalek

September 14

Away: vs AC Leopards

September 21

Orlando: vs Al Ahly