By Andrew Warshaw
February 2 – The entire board of the Egyptian Football Association has been dissolved by the Government in the wake of the riots on Wednesday in which 74 people died and over 1,000 were injured, reports said.
Three days of national mourning have been declared by the Egyptian authorities after one of football’s deadliest incidents in recent years.
Riots broke out when fans invaded the pitch after hosts Al-Masry upset fierce rivals Al-Ahli, Egypt’s most successful club, 3-1 in Port Said.
Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri (pictured) told an emergency session of Parliament that the entire board of the Egyptian FA had been sacked, though it was unclear to what extent that would break FIFA rules which forbid Government interference in national associations.
Egypt’s public prosecutor has also ordered the questioning of 52 people arrested after the riots.
The governor of Port Said and the head of security are also to be questioned.
All Egyptian league matches have been postponed indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said a minute’s silence would be held at quarterfinal matches of the African Cup of Nations at the weekend.
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