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Egypt apologises to Tunisia for football ‘thuggery’ | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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CAIRO, (AFP) — Egypt’s prime minister has apologised to Tunisia after angry fans of Egyptian side Zamalek stormed the pitch during a home game against Tunisian side Africain, attacking players and the referee, local press reported on Sunday.

Mobs of angry Zamalek supporters invaded the pitch three minutes from the end of a Champions League game in Cairo, attacking the referee, Tunisian players and dismantling goal posts in chaotic scenes aired live on television.

“Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has apologised to the government and people of Tunisia, to the players of Tunisia’s Africain and to the Algerian referee for what happened in Cairo Stadium,” the state-owned daily Al-Ahram reported.

Sharaf ordered the interior ministry to launch an investigation and called for a suspension of the Champions League, describing Saturday night’s incident as “an act of thuggery,” Al-Ahram said.

By Sunday morning, a Facebook group was set up to apologise to Tunisians that counted over 21,000 Egyptian members.