Al Masry fans invaded the pitch after a surprise 3-1 win over Cairo club Al-Ahly in Port Said last night, with reports stating as many as 79 people died in the ensuing violence.
There have been claims that security forces and police did not do enough to intervene, and that the violence was tied up with the political power struggle in the country.
FIFA, the game's world governing body, today asked the Egyptian authorities to explain exactly what happened.
Evil
FIFA said in a statement: "FIFA has asked the Egyptian authorities for a full report on the incidents in order to evaluate what happened.''
In a letter to Egyptian FA president Samir Zaher, the world governing body's president Blatter offered support and said: "Today is a black day for football and we must take steps to ensure that such a catastrophe never happens again.
"Football is a force for good and we must not allow it to be abused by those who mean evil.
"I await further news from you concerning the circumstances of this tragedy.''
Home fans reportedly armed with sticks and knives stormed the field after the final whistle.
Unspeakable catastrophe
Reports suggest some Al-Ahly fans suffocated, trapped in a narrow corridor as they fled the violence.
Al-Ahly's Portuguese coach Manuel Jose has returned to Portugal to ponder his future after being attacked, while his assistant coach Pedro Barny backed up the claims that security staff did too little.
Jose told www.el-ahly.com: "I was beaten with fists and kicks to the neck, head and feet. I saw our fans die before us and we are unable to do anything.''
Assistant coach Barny added: "What happened was an unspeakable catastrophe.
"From the beginning of the game, the fans of the opposing team's fans were allowed to fire rockets and stones at us without any intervention.
"In the end, it turned into a state of madness without any role for the security in the stands.
"We tried to save the lives of some of the fans, but many died before our eyes.''
The Egyptian Football Federation has announced an indefinite suspension of all leagues in the country following the trouble.
Meanwhile, reports in Egypt have stated Al Masry president Kamel Abu Ali has resigned.
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Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11988/7474658/
Norwich chief executive David McNally insists his club are on a firm footing despite Grant Holt’s request to leave Carrow Road.
The 31-year-old talisman’s transfer request was rejected by the Canaries on Friday following a superb first season in the Premier League, following speculation linking Norwich manager Paul Lambert with vacant positions elsewhere. However, chief executive McNally took to Twitter on Saturday in a bid to calm supporters about the club’s future. “We did receive a transfer request from Grant Holt yesterday [Friday]. It was rejected immediately,” McNally said. “At our club, we deal with the out-of-contract players first of all when each season ends. “We then deal with players where the club may have an option to extend their contracts. This season, there are several in this category.
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Nadal was made to work hard in the opening set by a battling Ferrer.
But once he took it in the tie-break, he did not allow his compatriot a route back into the match and wrapped up the second set without dropping a game.
Nadal will meet either Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic, who meet in Saturday’s other semi-final.
More to follow.
England’s Richard Finch shocked German world number nine Martin Kaymer to advance to the last 16 of the World Match Play at Finca Cortesin, Spain.
Finch, ranked 218 in the world, recorded a one-hole win over the number one seed to become the seventh UK player to reach the second round.
Ian Poulter, Tom Lewis, Graeme McDowell, Paul Lawrie, Robert Rock and Justin Rose are all through.
But Open champion Darren Clarke has gone out.
Clarke, who has failed to survive a halfway cut this season, lost twice on Friday, by two holes to Rock and 64 to Rose.
In the morning session, Lewis’s one-hole win over John Senden secured his and defending champion Poulter’s… Continue reading Finch shocks Kaymer at Match Play
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