Security uses tear gas to disperse Ultras Ahlawy

Security forces used tear gas to disperse protests by members of Ultras Ahlawy Sunday after they were denied entry into the Arab Contractors Stadium to attend the showdown between Al-Ahly football team and South Africa’s Orlando Pirates, Al-Ahram reported.

The Ultras were prevented from entering because they had no tickets, according to the state-run newspaper.

According to Ezzat Zahran, deputy of the Cairo Security Directorate, members of the Ultras attacked security forces with rocks and blocked the roads in front of the stadium.

Zahran said security forces had urged the Ultras to leave the stadium since they did not have tickets, especially because the stadium was at full capacity.

Ahly faced off against the Orlando Pirates for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League final on Sunday.

Ultras football fans have long clashed with the police and are known to have played an important role in the 2011 revolution as they stood in the frontline of protests against security forces.

In October several Ultras who were supporting the Ahly handball team were arrested around Cairo airport. The arrests caused anger among critics of police brutality. Some activists went as far as describing the Ultras' arrests as the return of the security state and its heavy-handedness in dealing with dissident groups.