Football match abandoned after clashes

Football match abandoned after clashes

Football fans light flares during the Zamalek-Africain match of the African Champions League

Hundreds of football fans invaded the pitch when Egypt's Zamalek was playing with Tunisia's club Africain in the African Champions League.

The game was abandoned after Saturday's clashat Cairo Stadium, Egypt.

Zamalek were winning 2-1 when its third goal was ruled out.

This has angered the home fans, who took over the pitch and forced the Algerian referee to leave.

It was the second leg of the round of 32 tie. Club Africain beat Zamalek 4-2 in the first leg.

Football fans run towards the pitch during the Zamalek-Africain match of the African Champions League

An Egyptian official in the ministry of health said nine people were injured in the incident, according to the state news agency MENA.

He did not give their nationalities.

The incident revived the soccer tension between Egypt and Algeria of the recent past.

Algeria and Egypt had a diplomatic row late in 2009 over an ill-tempered qualification match for the World Cup.

Both sides traded accusations about crowd violence and intimidation and Cairo withdrew its ambassador from Algiers.
Source: China Daily / Agencies

Published Apr 3 2011