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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 September 1999 Issue No. 445 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 September 1999 Issue No. 445
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Focus Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Riots at the Games
VIOLENT clashes erupted at a football match in the Pan-Arab Games in Jordan when Libyan fans tangled with security forces. A Libyan crowd of 2,000 fans started to let off firecrackers after Libya scored against Iraq to make it 1-1, leading the Lebanese referee to halt the match for three minutes during which police restored calm. But three minutes before time, with Iraq leading 3-1, Libyan fans started to rip up seats and throw them onto the pitch and scaled the barriers surrounding the field. Jordanian police clamped down on the disorder clashing with the fans, and this led to a second suspension of the match by the referee. Libyan fans threw projectiles at the part of the stadium reserved for VIP guests and the occupants of those seats had to shelter inside the building. Police clubbed Libyan fans and chased those who tried to flee into surrounding streets where they broke several windows. During the disorder AFP photographer Marwan Naamani received a punch in the head from a policeman. The Iraqi team remained in the middle of the pitch with the referee where they were protected by police while the Libyan team sheltered in the dug-outs. The referee had no choice but to suspend the match, giving the win to Iraq. In another incident last week, 20 people were injured, including four Palestinian players and a policeman, during a match between Libya and Palestine.
Cartoon by Fathi
