CAIRO:The launch of the league in Egypt this season has been postponed for a third time, this time until February 1, the Egyptian Football Association said yesterday.
The first round of matches will be played behind closed doors, a statement on the association’s website said.
It follows a weekend meeting between the EFA and two government ministers. Previous attempts to kick off the league have been blocked by government concerns football crowds could be a conduit for continuing civil disorder in the crisis-torn country.
“All those in attendance at Saturday’s meeting revealed their hopes that the league will start as soon as possible, as this will be an indicator of a stable security situation,” said the statement.
“The EFA and the club’s management should reach out to fans in order to avoid unrest inside and outside the stadiums,” it added.
The EFA had set three previous dates for the start of the league but been told to hold off by security chiefs.
There has been no league football in Egypt since February when a stadium riot in Port Said at a match between Al Masry and visiting Al Ahli saw 74 people killed.
The 2011/12 season was cancelled and attempts to get the new campaign underway in September was cancelled when protesting fans damaged the football association headquarters.
Meanwhile, Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic has been told he will keep his job regardless of how his team does at the African Nations Cup finals, keeping a focus on qualifying for the next World Cup.
Algeria have set an objective of reaching the semi-finals at the tournament in South Africa, which starts on January 19, but said the Franco-Bosnian coach will stay in place for the course of his contract through 2014.
“Halilhodzic will continue coaching even if there is failure in South Africa. It will not cost him his job if our objective is not achieved,” said Algerian Football Federation president Mohamed Raouraoua, a FIFA executive committee member.
“There will be the qualifiers for the World Cup to play straight afterwards, we do not intend to dispense with his services. He passed the first challenge to lead the team to the Nations Cup finals,” he told a news conference.
“Halilhodzic is building a competitive young team that can play two World Cups. Let him work on the long term.” AGENCIES
