27 die in Egypt riot after soccer violence verdict

[jimnyc]

Yikes, and all started over soccer. That's nuts.


CAIRO (AP) - Angry relatives and residents rampaged through an Egyptian port city Saturday in rioting that killed at least 27 people after a judge sentenced nearly two dozen soccer fans to death for involvement in deadly violence after a game last year.

The unrest was the latest in a bout of violence that has left a total of 38 people dead in two days, including 11 killed in clashes between police and protesters marking Friday's second anniversary of the uprising that overthrew longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.

President Mohammed Morsi canceled a scheduled trip to Ethiopia Saturday and instead met for the first time with top generals as part of the newly formed National Defense Council.

The violence in Port Said erupted after a judge sentenced 21 people to death in connection with the Feb. 1 soccer melee that killed 74 fans of the Cairo-based Al-Ahly team. Executions in Egypt are usually carried out by hanging.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130126/DA420VP80.html

[ConHog]

Yikes, and all started over soccer. That's nuts.



http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130126/DA420VP80.html

ban soccer

/thread

:coffee:

[Abbey Marie]

ban soccer

/thread

:coffee:

Nah. Just ban the soccer ball. ;)

[jafar00]

The whole situation is a mess. None of the senior police involved in letting it happen in the first place and making it worse by locking emergency exits have been charged or even questioned.

The death penalty convictions still need a Mufti to sign off on them. Most of those convicted are under age (21) so will most likely not be hanged. They can also appeal the sentence which many say was too political. One of the fans convicted was a supporter for Al Ahli who left the match before the violence after being warned about a possible fight. Yet he was accused of murder.

I believe the correct US term to describe this situation is "clusterfuck".