The Ministry of Interior Saturday morning refused to allow an Ahly FC versus Ethiopian Coffee FC match scheduled for 8 April to be held at Egypt's Military Academy Stadium. The game is part of the second-leg matches in round 32 of the African Champions League.
"[The rejection decision] was based on the recommendations of the prosecution, which stipulated that after investigations into the Port Said massacre, there must be security and safety measures at all stadiums including surveillance cameras, detectors for metal and hazardous substances, and a fence surrounding the pitch," read the official letter sent to Egypt's Ahly club.
The Military Academy Stadium is not sufficiently equipped.
Hassan Hamdy, Ahly's head, had contacted senior officials, including Field Marshal HusseinTantawi, head of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, in his quest to hold the game in Egypt.
Sayed Abdel Hafiz, Ahly's director, said the team would run the game "only in Egypt." He added: "We are not sanctioned to run the match outside of Egypt, and we must have the audience, because they are the basis of each team competing in the championships."
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
