Egyptian Football Association Dissolved after Deadly Soccer Riot

Football′s ruling body FIFA said on Thursday it was too early to talk about possible sanctions after the dissolving of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) in the wake of deadly riots at a game in Port Said.

74 people were crushed, suffocated or stabbed to death after a game between local team al-Masri and Cairo’s al-Ahli in the worst soccer violence the world has seen in 15 years.

A FIFA spokesman said the federation was awaiting further information on the issue before making an official statement.

Egyptian Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri told parliament at an emergency session that he had dissolved EFA and sacked the governor of the coastal city of Port Said.

Government intervention into football affairs is outlawed by FIFA rules and violations can be punished with suspension of the respective country from all international football matches.

FIFA said in a statement earlier Thursday that it had “asked the Egyptian authorities for a full report on the incidents in order to evaluate what happened.

“FIFA has offered its full support to the Egyptian Football Association and will provide the EFA with any assistance it needs with regard to this tragedy.”