EGYPT: A national catharsis over soccer violence

With bruised pride and marred dignity, Egypt is going through a catharsis that has left much of the country sleepless, devastated and angry over the violence that erupted around the national team's recent soccer matches against bitter rival Algeria.  

The chaotic scenes have only come to add to Egyptians' disappointment of failing to secure a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. After a 2-0 late win in the two teams' first game in Cairo forced a playoff in Sudan three days later, Algeria won the Khartoum decider 1-0 on Wednesday.

The Egyptian squad, nicknamed The Pharaohs, has qualified only twice for the World Cup, the last of those came in 1990. Over the years, Egyptian fanatics have somehow grown used to seeing their team miss out on the prestigious competition, so why the unprecedented rage among millions this time around?

EGYPT: Mubarak steps into Algerian football spat

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has sought to calm an angry and defeated Egypt following the nation's dramatic soccer loss to Algeria, which has led to riots in the streets and a nasty international political row between the two North African nations.   

Delivering a previously scheduled speech to Parliament today, the 81-year-old president spoke publicly for the first time about the violence that erupted over the last week during two World Cup qualifying matches. Algeria's players were attacked by Egyptian fans, and Egyptian fans were threatened and assaulted by Algerian mobs. Tensions between the nations further intensified when Egypt recalled its ambassador to Algiers.

"I want to say in clear words that the dignity of Egyptians is part of the dignity of Egypt," Mubarak said without directly naming Algeria, which on Wednesday defeated Egypt 1-0 to advance to the World Cup championship in 2010. "Egypt does not tolerate those who hurt the dignity of its sons." 

While many fuming Egyptians are calling for cutting political and economic ties with Algeria, Mubarak was keen not to give any conclusive statements during his speech: "We don't want to be drawn into impulsive reactions," he said. "I am agitated too, but I restrain myself."

Anger

The president's words came less than 48 hours after the Ministry of Interior announced that 35 people, including 11 police officers, were injured in clashes when hundreds of Egyptian demonstrators attempted to break into the Algerian Embassy in Cairo on Thursday evening and early Friday.

EGYPT: Cairo recalls its ambassador to Algeria after soccer violence

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki confirmed today that Egypt recalled its ambassador to Algeria after Egyptian fans were attacked by their Algerian counterparts following the two countries' playoff match in the 2010 World Cup qualifications held in Khartoum, Sudan, on Wednesday.

The incident comes days after Algeria's ambassador to Cairo, Abdel Qader Hadjar, was summoned by the Egyptian government to explain violence against Egyptians living in Algeria in the days leading up to the crucial match, which Algeria won 1-0. Hadjar was summoned once again today, hours before a decision was issued to recall Egypt's ambassador in Algiers for "consultations."

The Foreign Ministry announced that it informed Hadjar of "Egypt's extreme displeasure with the assaults on Egyptian citizens who went to Khartoum to support the Egyptian team."

"Egypt also expressed its outrage and its denunciation after continuing reports and many appeals from Egyptian citizens residing in Algeria over the assaults and intimidation they face," the statement to Hadjar concluded.

EGYPT: Algerian ambassador summoned to clarify post-football match incidents

Egypt's Foreign Ministry announced that Algeria's ambassador in Cairo Abdel Qader Hadjar has been called on to explain the violence against Egyptians living in Algeria following the two countries' football World Cup qualifier, the ministry's official spokesman Hossam Zaki confirmed.

Relations between the two countries have been recently marred by football fanaticism, which reached its peak right before and after the crucial match that ended when Egypt defeated Algeria 2-0 at Cairo International Stadium on Saturday.

In addition to the loss, Algerians' emotions were further provoked when Al Chourouk newspaper wrote that six of their fans died in clashes after the game. The allegation was denied by Hadjar, who said that no less than eleven of his fellow countrymen were injured but no deaths happened.

Since then, a number of attacks on members of the Egyptian community in Algeria have been reported.

On Monday, Egypt Air regional manager Nasser Mohamed Aladdin announced that the airline's bureau in Algiers was seriously damaged by Algerians who broke into its premises on Sunday evening. Aladdin added that Egypt Air decided to temporarily close the office in fear for its staff's safety.

Officials at the Egyptian-owned Orascom Telecom said that their subsidiaries' buildings in Algiers were similarly battered by stones and Molotov cocktails, and the head of Egypt's Arab Contractors said his company's branch was also assaulted but none of its workers was harmed.

After opening the score line in the third minute Saturday, Egypt hit a second in the game's dying seconds to be level on both points and goal difference with Algeria. The two teams, which share a history of animosity, will now meet in a one-match playoff in Khartoum, Sudan, on Wednesday, with the winner qualifying directly to summer's World Cup in South Africa.

--Amro Hassan in Cairo

Photo: A bus carrying Algerian players was damaged in Cairo. Credit: Mohamed Messara / EPA
 

EGYPT: Wishes for soccer glory as compensation to tough living

Throughout the streets of Cairo, thousands of young men have queued for hours to buy tickets for the anticipated soccer match against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup qualifications' final round, to be held Saturday at the Cairo International Stadium.
 
If Egypt wins with a three-goal margin, the six-time African champions, nicknamed "The Pharaohs." will reach the World Cup for the first time in 20 years and only the third time in its long sporting history.
 
"I spent the night here so I could have a better chance of buying a ticket. This will be a massive game for Egypt and I'll do whatever it takes to be there come Saturday," said one of the many people waiting around a ticket booth in northern Cairo. 

IRAQ: International soccer returns to Baghdad

Iraq’s future might be fraught with peril. Bombs explode daily around the country and its myriad political problems remain unsolved. But on Tuesday night, Iraqis’ desire for  ordinary lives was on display as international soccer returned to Baghdad.

For the first time since 2002, a team from abroad dared venture to Baghdad to engage in the national pastime. The opponents were the Palestinian team, a people themselves no stranger to war and still without statehood. Baghdad, where on any given day bloodshed can occur, from mortar fires, to rockets to suicide bombs, took all security precautions.

IRAN: Despite tensions, soccer diplomacy in the works

While the Obama administration is mulling over the possibility of engaging Iran, the United States Soccer Federation has beaten U.S. officials to it. 

Two months ago, USSF President Sunil Gulati sent a letter to his Iranian counterpart, Ali Kafashian, requesting a friendly soccer match, meaning it wouldn't count toward tournament play.

The invitation was sent directly to Kafashian, missing the intermediary typical of recent Iranian-U.S. relations.

No agreement has been reached yet, but Kafashian on Tuesday expressed the Islamic Republic’s willingness to play the American national team. 

AFGHANISTAN: Former wrestling divas visit the troops.

Four former divas from World Wrestling Entertainment ventured to Afghanistan as a morale boost for Army personnel, according to the Armed Forces Press Service.

Terry Runnels, Nora "Molly Holly" Greenwald, Christy Hemme and Shelly Martinez visited troops at the Bagram air base and other locations. For Martinez, it turned into a fact-finding mission.

"People back home will never really understand how things are here without actually having been here," she told press service reporter.

Ton Perry, San Diego

Photo: Wrestling diva Shelly Martinez meets a soldier. Credit: U.S. Army

ISRAEL: Heavy guns on the soccer field

Sports fans are anxiously awaiting Saturday night's soccer match between Israel and Greece. Liverpool player and Israeli captain Yossi Benayoun's name has been mentioned on the radio this week almost as often as that of Benjamin Netanyahu, now in the final stages of completing his new government.

It's an important game. If Israel wins, it increases its chances of qualifying for the World Cup, for the first time in 40 years.

Extreme situations call for extreme measures. Seeking extra motivation for their players in advance of the critical game, coaches Dror Kashtan and Moshe Sinai decided to call in a heavy gun.

Ilan Malka isn't your average locker room motivator. He's Col. Ilan Malka to you, commander of the IDF's Givati Brigade.

DUBAI: Israeli tennis players unwittingly court controversy

Politics and sports make a volatile mix when a game involves Israeli athletes competing in the Middle East in an environment of hostility toward the Jewish state.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates recently denied a star Israeli female tennis player entry to the city-state of Dubai to participate in an international tournament.

The incident was met with a wave of condemnations by journalists, sports associations and politicians in the U.S.

For now, it looks like the oil-rich Arab country might backtrack on its earlier decision to bar Israeli players.

U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) told a news conference in New York that the UAE would grant male doubles player Andy Ram a visa to take part in the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships next week.

Organizers of the tournament argued that the presence of an Israeli player would anger local crowds and create an unacceptable security situation.

Anti-Israeli sentiment has been exacerbated throughout the Arab world after the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which ended last month.

For weeks, Arab TV viewers were exposed to daily footage of Israeli jets causing havoc in Palestinian towns and of children agonizing in hospital beds.