Football matches postponed in Egypt for security reasons

Cairo, Jan 29 (IANS/AKI) Egypt’s Football Association has postponed all football matches scheduled for Saturday citing security reasons related to the ongoing wave of anti-government protests that have shaken the country since Tuesday, a news website said.

Federation board member Ayman Younes was cited as saying that security authorities had sent a formal letter to the federation requesting the postponement of the scheduled 16th round of Super League matches until further notice.

The league would announce new dates for the matches after coordinating with security authorities, Egyptian news website Al-Masry Al-Youm quoted Younes as saying.

At least seven people have died and over 1,000 have been arrested in massive nationwide protests over the past three days against the nearly 30-year-long rule of president Hosni Mubarak, who tolerates little dissent.

The anti-government protesters want Mubarak to resign, and are angry over corruption, police brutality, widespread poverty and high prices.

The government blocked Internet access throughout Egypt Friday. Fresh clashes were reported to have broken out between police and protesters in Cairo after Friday prayers.

Football is immensely popular in Egypt and matches are generally attended by tens of thousands of fans. Egypt has won the Africa Cup seven times, most recently in 2010.

–IANS/AKI