Seven months had to remain the football fans in Egypt outside the stadiums. Last week, the Egyptian Football Association announced to allow fans a game for the first time. Tomorrow, Zamalek plays again before audience.

For eighteen months, the State of emergency prevails in Egypt. The revolution on the Nile surprised all the West, Mubarak, the military. For many, it was a Sping, it was actually a soccer revolution. Right at the beginning of the protests left Mubarak interrupt the Football League, cancelled all games. The fear of that is in the stages of the masses against it together do could was too large. Already at this point, the trailer needed no stages. The road was their Stadium. Especially the Ultras of the two biggest clubs in Cairo were driving before Mubarak's overthrow: Al Ahly and Zamalek. In being a football fan, they are enemies, while they buried their rivalry the riots.

The forces capture Al Ahlys and Zamaleks society of the pre-Mubarak era again. A time in which the masses have been muzzled, the stage of football has been exploited. Fans use the 90 minutes to demonstrate their political agenda, Mubarak took the minutes to show normality of the world out there. But the Ultras were punished for their power. In February, 74 people, followers of Al-Ahlys died during a game in port said. The town was burned in the memory of the people and stands for the tragedy. The allegations keep, Mubarak's supporters have staged this - to punish the followers of Al-Ahlys, to frighten them.

"Soccer without fans is like a wedding without guests"

A whole nation was punished: the incident went down as the blackest day in the history of football, never before so many people at a football match were killed. The League was promptly canceled, players were nearing the career off, to throw everything out. Stopped has none, all players are part of the national team and their clubs again. However, the Football League has changed: the fans must remain since then outside. Many of the games are held now in foreign countries, or in the military Stadium, with officers as the audience. This has a disastrous consequence: the once strong Egyptians international slid into the basement. For the second time in a row, the country missed participation in the Africa Cup.


In the African Champions League, Zamalek has zero points 4th in Group B, Al-Ahly, but leads to the group. Last month the arch-rivals, Al Ahly and Zamalek as an opponent in the Champions League played well again against each other. What else is a major event in Cairo, took place behind closed doors without fans. "To play football behind closed doors, is like a wedding without guests," lamented Khaled Mortagey, Member of the Al-Ahly Board of Directors. "The atmosphere is not good for the player, all this affects their way of playing." Al Ahly could still win thanks to playmaker Mohamed Aboutrika 1-0.

Ultras again exert pressure

Again, there were the Ultras Zamaleks and Al-Ahlys, that their fate did not simply arise. Both fan groups massive pressure exerted on the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) - they wanted to support their teams, be at the games. Their efforts paid off. First, El Amry Farouq as a new Sports Minister was appointed. In a press statement, Farouq said top on his agenda to put the football. He had seen what disadvantage Al Ahly, Zamalek and the other clubs endure, what financial burden mean it for Egyptian football. Already prior to his appointment numerous meetings and intensive discussions between Al-Ahly took place members and Egypt's new Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Edin. He insisted that no fans to the play to allow as long as the clubs and stadiums would comply with its safety regulations. It was now agreed: for the time being continue the Games take place in the military Stadium. Fans will be admitted to selected games with limitation. Also the next Champions League among them game on September 14 between Al-Ahly and Zamalek. These games are peaceful, more games are released.

The step is a small victory of the new President Mohamed Morsi in his own fight against the security forces of the country. Only just, he scored a victory when he simply replaced the top ranks of the military. Long it was not succeeded to bring the fans to achieve finally a little normalcy back into the stadiums. And almost the military had again a stroke through the Bill him. Following the agreement reached between the Ministry, the ultra groups and the military, those in charge of the military withdrew stage offering, to carry out the games coming there. Supposedly, the stadium would be renovated. Prime Minister Hisham Qandil immediately ordered Defense Minister Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, to solve the problem. Zamalek had found no new venue for tomorrow's match against the team Berekum Chelsea from Ghana. The game - just for the fans - would have been. The pressure on El-Sisi was too large, the refusal was withdrawn. Even though the game for Zamalek as a bottom has no meaning, it is a great day for Egypt.

Morsi rewarded the Ultras for Mubarak's downfall

In Egypt, the current debate shows how politically motivated and the discussion about the football is colored. The efforts of President Morsi stand in stark contrast to his predecessor, Mubarak. Using football to distract from politics to burnish its image. Morsi is sure to clean football corruption, free and fair to make the sport. Recently, the Government formed the EFA, a choice of the sports Panel organised within 60 days from the. Three lists - trailers of the Mubarak era, Islamists and independent reformer - compete. Morsi knows that the fans are no longer keep from the stages. The problem must be solved now, at the tables with ministries, associations and ultras. Otherwise, they go back on the road and to fight for their rights.

The Egyptian Football Association called the fans Zamaleks to behave tomorrow. Just threw the African Football Federation (CAF) Tunisia's Etoile Sahal from the Champions League. Last week the Tunisian fans due to the poor performance of the team stormed the place, while the Portuguese against Esperance in Sousse, 22 police officers were injured.

"We count on the fans of Zamalek, to behave in a sporty. You should send a message around the world, that Egypt is safe", says EFA spokesman Azmy Megahed. The game is to pave the way for the National League. On September 17 this to begin again, hopefully the fans.