Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces ordered Sunday an investigation into the violence that erupted at a Cairo football match when angry Egyptian fans stormed the pitch and tried to attack Tunisian players.The council, which currently runs the country after former president Hosny Mubarak resigned, said a committee has been formed to look into the riots that took place on
Saturday evening.
Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi extended their apologies for Tunisian authorities and promised to investigate the incident.
Angry fans stormed the pitch at a Cairo stadium Saturday during an African Champions League match between Egypt's Zamalek and Tunisia's Club African, after a goal by the Egyptian team was disallowed for offside. The game was abandoned.
"Everything was ready for having a ceremonial game after two great revolutions in our countries," Egypt's ambassador to Tunisia, Ahmed Ismail, told the German Press Agency dpa.
"What happened in the last two minutes was a deliberate and premeditated act by parties who do not have anything to do with football," Ismail said.
On Saturday, Egyptian players were seen forming a human shield around the Tunisian players in an attempt to protect them from the angry crowd throwing stones. Fans have also damaged the stadium.
Club African beat Zamalek 4-2 in the first leg of the second round tie in the African Champions League. Zamalek were 2-1 up when the fans stormed the pitch.
Thousands of Egyptians took to social networking websites, expressing sorrow and extending apologies for Tunisians.
Pro-democracy protesters in each country supported each other in recent uprisings that saw their long-standing president toppled earlier this year.
However, North African rivalry in football has always been fierce.
In 2009, Egyptian-Algerian relations strained after World Cup qualifying football matches between the two countries resulted in a number of outbreaks of violence.
Saturday evening.
Prime Minister Essam Sharaf and Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi extended their apologies for Tunisian authorities and promised to investigate the incident.
Angry fans stormed the pitch at a Cairo stadium Saturday during an African Champions League match between Egypt's Zamalek and Tunisia's Club African, after a goal by the Egyptian team was disallowed for offside. The game was abandoned.
"Everything was ready for having a ceremonial game after two great revolutions in our countries," Egypt's ambassador to Tunisia, Ahmed Ismail, told the German Press Agency dpa.
"What happened in the last two minutes was a deliberate and premeditated act by parties who do not have anything to do with football," Ismail said.
On Saturday, Egyptian players were seen forming a human shield around the Tunisian players in an attempt to protect them from the angry crowd throwing stones. Fans have also damaged the stadium.
Club African beat Zamalek 4-2 in the first leg of the second round tie in the African Champions League. Zamalek were 2-1 up when the fans stormed the pitch.
Thousands of Egyptians took to social networking websites, expressing sorrow and extending apologies for Tunisians.
Pro-democracy protesters in each country supported each other in recent uprisings that saw their long-standing president toppled earlier this year.
However, North African rivalry in football has always been fierce.
In 2009, Egyptian-Algerian relations strained after World Cup qualifying football matches between the two countries resulted in a number of outbreaks of violence.
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