It was with a heavy heart I wrote this piece. This article is a far, far cry from the
matchday recaps, where the worst thing I have reported on was defeat to FC
Barcelona. This is about real life
and tragedy... and an eerie reminder of just how human we all are.
The events that occurred at Port Said could be described as
nothing short of somber, disheartening, and tragic. At least 74 people were killed and hundreds injured after
football fans rushed the field after an upset victory of home team, Al-Masry,
over visitors, Al-Ahly.
Historically speaking, the match between these two teams is notorious
for clashes between the rival fans, notably the ultras. But no one could have predicted the
events that would follow...
Home fans flooded the pitch and visiting team's bleachers...
brandishing knives and armed with fire.
Al-Ahly players and fans were attacked, forced to retreat into the
locker room and exit hallways. Players
and coaching staff were forced to become doctors and EMTs to the steady stream
of injured fans coming in for medical aid. It was there that these men witnessed death, the deaths of
fans that so loyally came out to see them play, one-by-one. On the outside, there was a
lockdown. The stadium was blocked
off. Gates were locked. Nobody could leave. Most of those who died succumbed to
head injuries, stab wounds, or crushed as they tried to escape.
Perhaps someone did see this coming. Al-Ahly's team captain, Hossam Ghaly, a
former Tottenham Hotspur player, had been sent off during the match for arguing
with the referee. Ghaly had tried
to convince the ref to cancel the match on account of the fact rocks were being
thrown at players, feeling that the scuffle would escalate into a full-blown
riot. His words were ignored,
which led him to being sent off.
As it turns out, Ghaly was right.
The incident in the Egyptian city has been the deadliest
ever since the country's former president, Hosni Mubarak, was ousted from
office a year ago. Furthermore,
this has been the worst case of football violence in Egypt and deadliest
worldwide since 1996. Footballers
and football fans worldwide took to Twitter and expressed their sympathies and
shock over the events at Port Said.
It was that of Liverpool FC that stood out, as the club's supporters
have been involved in 2 major tragedies – Hysel Stadium in '85 and Hillsborough
in '89 – which prompted the question: Will
the violence ever end?
I, along with all of Focus Football, would like to formally
extend deepest condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the victims of the Port
Said riots and their loved ones.
Written by Gail Hidalgo
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