Egypt football: Death sentences over Port Said stadium violence

Supporters of the victims celebrated the verdict in Cairo
An Egyptian court has sentenced to death 21 defendants over clashes between rival football fans in which 74 people were killed in February 2012.
The riots - Egypt's worst-ever football disaster - began after a top-league game at Port Said stadium.
The ruling sparked a clash outside Port Said prison, where defendants are held, with two police officers shot dead.
The sentences came after clashes erupted on the second anniversary of the uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
Thousands of people took to the streets on Friday to voice their opposition to Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, accusing him of betraying the revolution.
At least seven people were killed and more than 450 wounded in unrest across Egypt.
Port Said 2012 football deaths
74 people killed in Port Said stadium on 2 February 2012
Clashes broke out between rival fans of clubs al-Masry and al-Ahly
Fans flooded on to pitch attacking Ahly players and fans as match ended
Most died of concussion, cuts and suffocation
The largest death toll in Egypt's football history
Last year's football riots led to the suspension of the league.
They began minutes after the game in Port Said. Fans of local side al-Masry fans invaded the pitch, hurling stones and fireworks at visiting supporters from Cairo club al-Ahly.
The violence in Port Said sparked riots in Cairo during which a further 16 people died.
A section of al-Ahly supporters, known as the "ultras", played a prominent role in the protests against ex-President Mubarak.
Some accused supporters of the toppled leader of instigating the Port Said violence. They also accused of doing little to prevent it.
When the death sentences were announced on Saturday, relatives of victims cheered in the courtroom.
However supporters and relatives of those sentenced tried to storm Port Said prison. Two policemen were killed in the clash, security officials said.
Last February's clashes led to the indefinite suspension of the Egyptian league
Seventy-three people, including policemen, were tried over the stadium clashes.
The judge said he would announce the verdict for the remaining 52 defendants on 9 March.
Economic 'collapse' Friday saw a big anti-government rally in Cairo's Tahrir Square, with opposition supporters clashing with police.
There was also unrest in 12 out of 27 of Egypt's provinces. At least six of the deaths occurred in Suez.
In Ismailia, protesters set fire to the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. The city's governorate headquarters was later also stormed.
The liberal opposition accuses Mr Morsi of being autocratic and driving through a new constitution that does not protect adequately freedom of expression or religion.

Protester Hany Ragy: "We feel our revolution has been stolen"
The government is also being blamed for a deepening economic crisis.
One of the demonstrators at Cairo's Tahrir Square, Momen Asour, said he had come to demand an end to President Morsi's rule.
"We have not seen anything, Neither freedom, nor social justice, or any solution to unemployment, or any investment," he said. "On the contrary, the economy has collapsed."
President Morsi and his allies have dismissed the claim, saying they have a democratic mandate following recent elections. The constitution, drawn up by an Islamist-dominated body, was approved by referendum last month.

Source:pioneerblog