Not surprising. The Egyptian Premier League has been cancelled in the aftermath of the Port Said riots on Feb 1st which claimed 74 lives. It has been replaced by a friendly "martyrs" tournament that will run from 29 March to 18 May and include 18 teams.

Al Masry, the club whose fans instigated the tragic events of that day have been expelled from the tournament.

Egyptian soccer is in chaos, mirroring what that country is going through. The Egyptian prime minister dissolved the Egyptian Football Federation, Port Said's governor and police chief were sacked, and the Muslim Brotherhood launched a scathing attack on the Interior ministry, deeming it responsible for the violent Port Said clashes that left 74 dead and scores injured.

A tragédia ocorrida ontem no Egipto, onde, pelo menos 74 pessoas morreram e largas centenas ficaram feridas no final do jogo entre o Al-Masry e o Al-Ahly, de Manuel José, é apenas mais um episódio de uma "novela" infelizmente já vista em vários pontos do globo. Não interessa quem começou os distúrbios.

At least 74 soccer fans died as deadly riots broke out in Port Said after a soccer match between Al Masry and visiting Al Ahly. Fans from Al Masry invaded the pitch after their team beat Al Ahly, 3-1 and clashed with their rivals. Most of the deaths were attributed to the ensuing stampede as supporters desperately tried to make for the exits.

Tragic news is coming out of Egypt following today's match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly in Port Said, Egypt. After Al-Masry won the match, 3-1, its fans invaded the pitch, forcing Al-Ahly players to flee to the locker room, where they became trapped. Apparently, Al-Ahly Ultras took to the pitch too, and the long, violent history between the two clubs was extended.