Egypt’s Soccer team Al Ahly will wear shirts printed with the number “74” in honor of the fans who died in Port Said stadium carnage in February.
"The sport ministry approved our request to wear shirts with the number 74 starting from the first domestic match to honor the victims of Port Said disaster," said the Egyptian team in a statement on their official website on Friday.
In Feb.1, a devastating count of 74 fans died in a match mob allegedly steered by Masry fans when they stormed the field of Port Said and attacked Ahly fans. All football activities have been frozen in the country since then.
The Ultras Ahlawy and the Ultras Devils, both diehard Ahly fan groups, have sworn not to allow the league to resume until the trial ends. Efforts to regularly gather are made to make sure their demands are heard.
The club has also requested approval from the Confederation of African Football to wear the same shirt if they manage to get through the finals.
"We are waiting for CAF approval to wear the same shirts at the CAF Champions League final if we qualified. Also our players will wear the shirts during the warm up ahead of Sunday's clash against Sunshine Stars," Ahly football director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz said in the club site.
The team, which have been six-time African Champions League title holders, are preparing for their home match against Nigeria’s Sunshine Stars on Sunday in the second leg of the CAF Champions League Semis.
Ahly's first set of matches against Sunshine Stars last week ended in a 3-3 draw.
Days ago, Egyptian Premier League club Wadi Degla initially made the announcement that its players will wear shirts to honor the Ahly fans in the coming season.
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