Algerian National Team News

[Al-khiyal]

Prétendues agressions contre les supporters égyptiens :
Le démenti d’un médecin égyptien aux mensonges “pharaoniques”

Lundi 23 Novembre 2009 -- Le démenti aux allégations égyptiennes sur les prétendues agressions perpétrées par des supporters algériens contre les Égyptiens est venu cette fois-ci des rangs des Pharaons. Le conseiller médical de l’ambassade d’Égypte à Khartoum, Mamdouh Ali, qui est intervenu en direct sur une des chaînes satellitaires égyptiennes, a affirmé qu’il n’y avait aucun blessé parmi la délégation de son pays et que les blessures dont souffraient quelques personnes n’étaient pas dues à de supposées attaques qui auraient été menées par le camp algérien. Évidemment, la version du diplomate égyptien n’a pas été du goût des animateurs de l’émission, dont l’hystérique Amrou Adib qui n’arrêtait pas de demander chaque fois au médecin égyptien s’il n’y avait pas de morts parmi la délégation de son pays.

[Al-khiyal]

[Al-khiyal]

Tous les supporters algériens rapatriés de Khartoum

ALGER, Lundi 23 Novembre 2009 -- Le président-directeur général de la compagnie nationale aérienne, Air Algérie, Abdelwahid Bouabdallah, a assuré, samedi à Alger, que l'ensemble des supporters algériens, partis à Khartoum pour soutenir l'équipe nationale de football, "ont été rapatriés". "Ce matin à 6h00, tous les supporters algériens qui se sont déplacés à Khartoum pour soutenir l'équipe nationale de football, lors du match d'appui de mercredi entre l'Algérie et l'Egypte, sont rentrés au pays", a indiqué M. Bouabdallah à la presse pendant qu'il attendait samedi après-midi le dernier vol en provenance de Khartoum. Il a ajouté que le dernier supporter se trouve à bord de ce vol qui transporte 151 personnes, dont des ministres, des parlementaires, moudjahidine, cadres de la santé, éléments de la Protection civile et des employés d'Air Algérie.

[Al-khiyal]

Egypt and Algeria soccer spat reaches Arab League

November 23, 2009 -- The Arab League is currently mulling several proposals after it was forced to step in, rebuffing a provocative Israeli offer, to end a bitter tit-for-tat spat between Egypt and Algeria following their 2010 World Cup qualifier playoff match in Sudan. One of the main proposals was a bid to ban celebrities and politicians from attending future matches between Egypt and Algeria as it was considered one of the major factors that led to the recent clashes that followed the game, a diplomatic source from the Arab League told Al Arabiya. During the second round between the rivals, which took place in Cairo on November 14 and which Egypt won 2-0, Algeria sent a plane carrying three ministers and 200 MPs. Whereas in the final round, which took place in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on November 18, which Algeria won 1-0, Egypt sent 133 celebrities, including President Hosni Mubarak's two sons and several prominent politicians. The presence of passionate fans from both sides subjected the public figures to several problems, which they later talked about to several media outlets and, stirring public opinion, which analysts say fueled the crisis between both nations. The proposal argued that banning public figures from attending future matches, such as the upcoming 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, would serve as a precautionary measure against further media campaigns in which both sides engage in endless incriminations. Another proposal argued that the first step to end the bitter rivalry is to immediately stop the current media campaigns and adopt wiser methods of tackling the problem at this critical stage. An Arab League spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that since the tension has been rising Secretary General Amr Moussa has been receiving several phone calls from member states calling on the league to solve the crisis. Arab initiatives to solve the problem intensified in the wake of a provocative statement made by Israel and in which it offered to mediate between Egypt and Algeria. According to information obtained by Al Arabiya, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and his Algerian counterpart Mourad Medelci are currently working on organizing a meeting between the two countries, but the level of representation has not yet been decided.

[Al-khiyal]

Egypt: A national catharsis over soccer violence

November 23, 2009 -- With bruised pride and marred dignity, Egypt is going through a catharsis that has left much of the country sleepless, devastated and angry over the violence that erupted around the national team's recent soccer matches against bitter rival Algeria. The chaotic scenes have only come to add to Egyptians' disappointment of failing to secure a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. After a 2-0 late win in the two teams' first game in Cairo forced a playoff in Sudan three days later, Algeria won the Khartoum decider 1-0 on Wednesday.

The Egyptian squad, nicknamed The Pharaohs, has qualified only twice for the World Cup, the last of those came in 1990. Over the years, Egyptian fanatics have somehow grown used to seeing their team miss out on the prestigious competition, so why the unprecedented rage among millions this time around? Ahmed Al Aqabawi, a psychology professor at Azhar University, believes that the ongoing row was a result of Egyptians' adoption of soccer as a national preoccupation rather than just a sport they love: "What is going on now is a result of years of depression. We are talking about an Egyptian population that is constantly witnessing social, financial and political failure and [soccer] was their only ray of light," Al Aqabawi says. "In my whole life I've never seen Egyptians focused altogether on one target as they were before the two games, and that is why the loss was such a massive displeasure for millions. Violence also played the bigger part in making the saga hard to forget for both media and fans alike," he adds.

Hostility was triggered when a number of Egyptian fans hurled stones at a bus carrying Algerian players from Cairo Airport to their hotel, injuring three Algerian players and one coach. Further reports from Algerian media falsely said that 11 Algerian fans were killed during clashes after the Cairo game on November 14. Consequently, some members from the Egyptian community in Algeria, as well as Egyptian-owned businesses, were attacked by furious Algerians. According to Egyptian media and supporters returning from Sudan, the Khartoum playoff was also followed by "vigorous and systemized" assaults from their Algerian counterparts. Although very few Egyptians would acknowledge that they are at fault for attacking Algerian players in Cairo, those who admit the incident believe that the Algerian reaction in Khartoum pushed the conflict to a higher, nastier, level. "Not only did we lost the game, but our fans got beaten and Egyptian residents in Algeria are still suffering from the backlash of the minor assaults that occurred in Cairo," university student Mahmoud Saied said angrily. "The whole world is condemning us although what happened in Cairo is nothing compared to the violations Algerians did against our fans in Khartoum," he adds.

Many Egyptians have already accused Western media of being biased in covering the drama, saying that the press focused too much on the Cairo incidents. Soccer's government body, FIFA, is investigating the Cairo violence and it is expected that the Egyptian Football Association. will be sanctioned. Al Aqabawi is convinced that the absence of guidance from the country's intellectual elite in such critical situation has helped to multiply the entire nation's feeling of injustice. "Masses don't consider things thoroughly before they form a certain perspective regarding situations like the one we are facing. Their emotions were left to be guided by whatever our media is broadcasting," he stressed. Despite recalling the Egyptian ambassador in Algiers on Thursday, it took Egyptians two days to hear President Hosni Mubarak assure that Egypt does not tolerate those who hurt the dignity of its sons. Many are still expecting a stiff political response as some have already called for cutting all ties with Algeria.

[Al-khiyal]

Egypt-Algeria controversy rages on

November 23, 2009 -- The aftermath of Egypt's ill-fated World Cup play-off with Algeria continues to drag on. Accusations of violence, media manipulation and dishonesty from both sides flood the airwaves in the Arab world, with little sign of a peaceful conclusion. Tensions were high even prior to the match between the sides in Cairo that Egypt won 2-0, and afterwards rumours were in full swing. Two Algerian newspapers quickly spread rumours of deaths in Cairo that later went unconfirmed, and were then denied by the Algerian ambassador. Such rumour-mongering raised the stakes ahead of the match in Sudan. Personages in each country viewed each other with mutual suspicion. Things changed little after the match, with yet more talks of deaths, violence, and attacks on supporters' buses, although reliable details were extremely hard to come by amidst unconfirmed reports.

Even the club game is feeling the effects of nationalist fighting. Egyptian club Al Ahly are on the verge of selling Algerian teenager Amir Sayoud to Lierse of Belgium due to the midfielder's fears for his safety, while Amr Zaki has said that a move to Portsmouth will no longer go ahead due to their having an Algerian - Nadir Belhadj - in their ranks, as well as an Israeli. Meanwhile a fans' site known as 'Egyptian Players' has even gone to the lengths of preparing a dossier for FIFA on some of the events surrounding the match. As expected this sees things almost exclusively from an Egyptian point of view, but nonetheless its contents could provide much embarassment for certain Algerians. Among them is a prominent Algerian singer, apparently caught on camera amidst fans angrily proclaiming that they will journey to Sudan purely for revenge.

That the issue has become heavily politicised is undeniable. Consul staff members, ambassadors and spokespersons have commented on the issue for days; over the past weekend, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak became the highest-ranking official to speak his mind. The BBC quotes him as saying to Parliament, "Egypt does not tolerate those who hurt the dignity of its sons."We don't want to be drawn into impulsive reactions. I am agitated too, but I restrain myself." Furthermore, it was widely reported on Arab TV that Algerian fans were flown to the match in Sudan by military planes, calling into question the neutrality of the situation.

Goal.com Arabic chief editor Mohammed Awaad indicates that there is little sign of the issue quietly fading into the background, and states that media manipulation and the actions of political elites are responsible for much of the controversy. He said earlier today, "This is no longer about football, and who qualified or who didn't. It's now about the respective populations, who feel that their respective dignities have been assaulted. The media are coming in for a lot of criticism, but most of the experts in the Arab world see that there are political hands behind the events. Egyptians, for example, may see this as Algeria's forcing them to withdraw lucrative investment from their country to allow others in. There is a lot of talk of conspiracy."

That the Beautiful Game has resulted in such ugly scenes in stadiums and even in boardrooms and banks is surely disappointing for world governing body FIFA at a time when the world should be looking ahead to December 4's World Cup draw. What is more, that the controversy will be over by then is looking ever more unlikely an occurrence.

[Al-khiyal]

Gamal Mubarak: ‘They will suffer the consequences of Egypt’s wrath’

CAIRO, November 23, 2009 -- In a statement to Egyptian terrestrial TV Monday, Gamal Mubarak, head of the policies secretariat in the ruling National Democratic Party, said that attacks on Egyptian fans by Algerians in Khartoum following the World Cup qualifier will have grave consequences. “Anyone who thinks that this will just pass is gravely mistaken,” said Mubarak, son of President Hosni Mubarak. “They will also suffer the consequences of Egypt’s wrath… Egypt is a major power that should not be taken lightly. It is great by its government, by its diverse society and by the influence of that society in the region and the world.” He added that the Egyptian people will “get their own back” and that anyone who planned, facilitated or provoked acts of aggression against Egyptian fans in Khartoum would be wrong to think that it will be dealt with as a slight incident following a football match. “They should know that they have made a big mistake against a big country and so will suffer the aftermath of Egypt’s anger, not just that of the state, but of society as a whole,” he said. Mubarak said that Egypt’s government and its various institutions, whether or not they are sports-related, including culture, media and civil society, have already begun coordinating a joint response which will go beyond a mere expression of anger.

Gamal Mubarak’s statements follow rare interjections by his businessman and older brother Alaa, who openly called for a tough stand amid the diplomatic row between Egypt and Algeria over the Khartoum attacks. Calling in to popular talks shows both on local and satellite TV, Alaa said that the tensions reveal Algeria’s “grudge and ill-will” toward Egypt, describing the attacks as a form of “terror, hostility.” “It is impossible that we as Egyptians take this, we have to stand up and say ‘enough’,” said Alaa, who had traveled to Khartoum for Wednesday’s game. “There should be a stance, we have had enough.” “When you insult my dignity ... I will beat you on the head,” he added.

Also on Monday the Ministry of Information released a statement saying that “the assaults have reflected that there has been an Algerian determination and persistence on practicing the severest kinds of violence and barbarism against the Egyptian fans … irrespective of the results of the game, paying no attention or consideration to the Sudanese security which dealt with the issue with impartiality worthy of thanking.” “It is worth mentioning that Algeria has taken clear hostile stances before the match in addition to attacking the Egyptian interests in Algeria, including cutting the transmission of Egyptian drama on Algerian TV and boycotting Egyptian movies,” the statement added.

Egyptians who had flown to Sudan to attend the World Cup decider between Egypt and Algeria on Wednesday — which the latter won by one goal — were attacked by Algerian fans after the match. Egyptians complained that the buses transferring them to the airport were pelted with rocks, their windows smashed and that Algerian fans chased them down the streets of Khartoum wielding knives and machetes. Egyptian interests in Algeria have also been targeted causing massive damage worth $5 million to mobile operator Orascom Telecom and EgyptAir offices. No Algerian officials have openly condemned the attacks, which has led many to speculate that they were orchestrated and preplanned in retaliation for the stone-throwing attack on the Algerian football team’s bus when it arrived in Cairo on Saturday November 14 for the first match against Egypt. Angered by news of the Khatoum assaults, hundreds of Egyptians attempted to attack the Algerian embassy, but were stopped by riot police. During the scuffle, several shop windows were broken and cars set on fire in Zamalek.

On a related note, according to egynews.net, Egyptian Prosecutor General Abdel Meguid Mahmoud has launched an investigation into complaints against former goal keeper and current sports show host Ahmed Shobeir, as well as two Algerian ministers and four Algerian editors-in-chief accusing them of profiting financially through writings and statements that violate civil rights and disrupt social peace.