Quietly deadly
The arrest of 200 Ismaili fans last month brought hooliganism in the coastal city back to the fore. Mohamed El-Sayed relates the history of Ismailia's short fuse
Ismailia is mostly known for its tranquillity. Located 120 kilometres northeast of the capital, the city's atmosphere is reflected in its people's mild- mannered temper and friendliness. However, the niceness can quickly turn into something drastically different, sometimes ugly, when it comes to their most favourite entertainment -- soccer.
The first Egyptian club to win the African Champions League, in 1970, Ismaili has a history of entertaining soccer. But there is a dark side as well. In 1992 came their first recorded riot in Ismailia. The club was in a tight race for the title with Zamalek. In the second half against Tersana, the score at 2-2, referee Essam Siyam allowed the visitors a controversial goal.
Incensed Ismaili supporters tore down the fences of the stands and burst onto the pitch. They set fire to the seats and got the better of Siyam who was taken to intensive care. As punishment, the club was prevented from playing on their home turf for several weeks.
The penalty, though, was not harsh enough. One year later, while playing against Misri in Cairo -- the game was shifted from Ismailia after supporters hurled verbal insults at a referee -- dozens of Ismaili fans flooded the pitch in an attempt to get their hands on the referee who, in their opinion, was an obstacle to their run to the title for the sake of the capital club Ahli, their challengers.
Similar acts of disobedience recurred in the ensuing years, especially during decisive matches against Ahli. The worst and deadliest was in the final of the African Champions League against Eniymba of Nigeria in 2003. Ismaili had lost the first leg in Abuja 2-0, which meant they had to hit three goals in the second leg in Ismailia to win the trophy outright. Ismaili, though, were unable to score more than one goal.
Firmly believing in the conspiracy theory -- again they blamed the referee who allowed the visitors to waste more than 30 minutes of regulation time through feigning injury -- they tore up seats and hurled them onto the pitch, preventing the awarding of the title for an hour. Having been driven from the stadium, like swarms of locusts, they descended on the city, destroying whatever they came upon -- shop windows, cars and barricades. Five supporters died during the clashes and hundreds were arrested. The club was fined and banned from playing on their home turf for seven African matches.
Ismailia hooliganism, while unpardonable, is easy to understand. Football is an integral part of the city. It's not just entertainment but part and parcel of daily life. It may be because Ismailia is not a business-oriented or commercial city. Its inhabitants, mostly civil servants, have precious little to do but go to work at 8am, return at 2pm, then spend the rest of the day playing, watching or reading football.
This obsession with football can have tragic endings. In 2000, a supporter died after suffering a heart attack when Ismaili conceded a goal in the Egyptian Cup semi-final against Ahli (had the fan survived, he would have seen his favourite team eventually win 4-2, then capture the Egyptian Cup).
Children, too, rarely think about much else other than becoming football players. Playing hooky is normal during Ismaili matches. And when the children do go to school, they play before classes, during the break, and after school's over.
Being the chief preoccupation of Ismailia media, its news is top of the agenda in local TV and radio stations as well as the press.
A downtown newsstand is usually surrounded by readers wanting to know what's new in football and the times of fixtures. Some don't have enough money to buy sports newspapers and magazines. They instead strike a deal with the vendor to borrow a paper for three or four hours for 50 piastres.
Obsession with the game is reflected in almost every corner of the town. The first thing attracting attention at the entrance of the city is a football- shaped fountain. The main square is adorned with a painting of the greatest players of the club, from Salah Abu Greisha to Mohamed Barakat.
To go to the stadium, you take Shehta (an Ismaili football legend in the 1960s) Street , then turn left to take Reda (another legend of the same period) Street.
Being enamored with football is no problem unless things get out of hand. In last month's riots, Ismaili fans went on the rampage after their team lost 6-0 to Ahli. They threw stones at police and damaged six vehicles outside the stadium. Shops and phone boxes were also damaged.
The club's board of directors resigned en masse to try to calm their supporters but the rampage continued.
Fortunately, there were no reported deaths. But given the wild relationship Ismaili residents have with their club and with football, they often see the game as one of life and death.
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