NOV 16 — Algeria was top of their group for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers coming to the last game in Cairo against Egypt. Egypt had to win 3-0 Algeria to qualify for the finals; a 2-0 result would mean a play-off game on neutral ground (which is the case; they would be playing on Wednesday in Khartoum, Sudan) and a 1-0 win would had taken Algeria to in South Africa.
For the past month it has been a media war between the two countries and especially their fans (many groups were created on Facebook), triggering rage and anger on each side. Egyptians insulting Algerians and calling them names and vice versa (I was an admin on one of the Facebook groups and my job was simply to delete the inappropriated posts by Algerians and Egyptians — that is how I lost my Facebook account and had to create a new one)
On Nov 13, when the Algerian national team arrived in Cairo, they were attacked by Egyptian fans who almost stormed into their hotel. Many Algerian players were injured. Algerian national television did not want to show it on TV, instead they showed the team coach commenting on the incident, saying that this kind of things can happen. On the other hand, French TV did show the videos.
Taking into consideration the gravity of the situation, Fifa had requested the Egyptian government for a written assurance guaranteeing the safety of the Algerian team and their crew until they leave Egypt. Fifa got their request and the game took place on Nov 14. It started at 7.30pm Egypt time and ended about 9.30pm. The final score was 2-0 in Egypt’s favour (I will spare you the details of the game). This mean a play-off game.
Meanwhile, about 8,000 Algerian supporters went to watch the game in Cairo; it was held in a stadium that can hold about 100,000 spectators (8,000/92,000 — do the maths). The Algerians were forced to stay back until the stadium was empty, the authorities used the excuse that it was for their own protection. They waited until 3am and they were supposed to be sent back to their hotels. Instead of doing so (as translated from the video) their buses did not go to the hotels, but they were driven through popular districts and once there, the cops started shouting “we brought you Algerians”. Egyptians began invading the buses and started beating the Algerian fans. Some were beaten to death. The toll was said to be 17 deaths.
A witness on the video who was interviewed by “Shuruk TV” said he managed to run to a taxi and went in. He asked the driver to take him to the hotel. The driver told him that it would cost him 50 Egyptian pounds. The witness said he would pay 100; by the time the driver started moving, the crowd pulled out those Algerian supporters in the taxi.
What saddens me is that none of the above was reported in the Malaysian press or TV. Yesterday in The Star, it mentioned that Egypt beat Algeria 2-0. It also reported that Algerian fans were unruly. I personally do not care who started it. Why is it that every time Algerians are blamed in the Malaysian press, TV and radio? Why can’t The Star say the fans of both teams fans behaved badly.
It was also sad that instead of showing the game and the goals, NTV7 showed three Algerian fans wearing the Algerian flag and also a few luxury boats that were burnt in southern France. Why can’t they show the Algerian team entering the hotel in Cairo with bloody faces?
It is true that we Algerians had a bloody and black decade, but things have changed and the security situation has clearly improved. What else does the Malaysian press need to change their reporting? Enough is enough.
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it is obvious that you do not have any idea about this match. why are you using the game the to express opinions that have nothing to do with the game. nice fiction though