Egypt Court To Rule On Listing Ultras ‘Terrorists’, 27 Septembera

The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters said Sunday it would issue a verdict 27 September on a lawsuit calling for all “Ultras” football fan groups to be listed as terrorist organisations.

Lawyer and Zamalek Football Club chairman Mortada Mansour earlier filed a case calling for all Ultras football groups to be disbanded, providing examples of riots such groups were reportedly involved in.

Zamalek management boycotted the club’s hardcore fans, the Ultras White Knights, indefinitely in August following an attack on Mansour by unidentified gunmen near the club.

At least 36 members of Ultras White Knights are currently detained pending investigations for violating the protest law when they demonstrated against the detention of colleagues who are accused of the apparent assassination attempt.

Mansour has been a controversial figure in Egyptian society since the 1990s, with a resume full of contentious public statements and lawsuits.

Since playing a role during the January 25 Revolution, Egyptian football Ultras groups have become strongly involved in the country’s heated domestic affairs.

Using their physical and organisational capabilities, the Ultras have featured prominently in recurring confrontations with security forces, and also took part in numerous protests — though not all — since 2011.

Source : Ahram online