Thousands of hardcore football supporters – known as Ultras – and various political movements marched in Cairo on Thursday to protest the conduct of Egypt's security forces during Wednesday's football disaster, which left 71 dead and hundreds injured at a match between Masry and Ahly in Port Said.
Ahly's Ultras Ahlawy gathered outside the Ahly Sporting Club in Zamalek from midday, where they were joined by Zamalek's Ultras White Knights – who arrived from Sphinx Square in Muhandiseen – and others from Tahrir Square. Together they marched to the interior ministry after altering their original plan to march on Parliament.
Many protesters wore black and wept with grief. "I have three children who are Ultras Ahly, and if any of them had died, I don’t know who I would have turned to," Mohamed Omran told Ahram Online in tears.
At the Sphinx march, some protesters blamed the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) for the disaster. "This is a conspiracy designed by the SCAF because the security forces opened the doors for Masry fans to attack Ahly fans," a protester told Ahram Online.
Others suggested the Ultras Ahlawy had paid the price for their revolutionary positions during January 25 Revolution. "They are paying the price for protecting protesters during the Battle of the Camel last year," Gehan Shaaban, a member of Popular Socialist Alliance Party, told Ahram Online. "Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of the Camel."
Meanwhile, some blamed the Masry supporters. "They posted a warning on their Facebook page last week that Ahly Ultras would be killed during the match," another protester told Ahram Online.
Some chanted against Port Said citizens on their way to join protests at Ahly Sporting Club, but others refused to lay the blame for the disaster on the Suez Canal city residents.
Meanwhile, large protests by local residents marched through the streets of Port Said on Thursday to condemn the attacks on Ahly Ultras.
