Egypt league games could be played in private
Reuters - Monday 04 April 2011, 18:07
CAIRO - The rest of the Egyptian Premier League season could be played behind closed doors or inside
military camps after a pitch invasion at the weekend, the
country's football association said on Monday.
The league has been disrupted since the popular uprising in
January which led to the toppling of president Hosni Mubarak.
It was due to restart on April 13 but has now been postponed
indefinitely after the pitch invasion at an African Champions
League match in Cairo on Saturday led to nine injuries.
"I will hold a series of meetings with officials to discuss
the situation and work out a final solution for the resumption
of the competition," Egyptian Football Association president
Samir Zaher said on the association's website on
Monday.
"We could play matches behind closed doors and also on the
pitches of the armed forces."
Only five matches in two African club competitions have been
allowed in the country since the mass demonstrations.
On Saturday, angry supporters of Zamalek invaded the pitch
and attacked the Algerian referee and players of Tunisian
opponents Club Africain after a late appeal for a penalty was
turned down.
Former African champions Zamalek could now face expulsion
from the competition and a hefty fine.
On Monday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said
its disciplinary committee would hear possible charges against
the Cairo club when it meets in South Africa later this month.