The end of the Egypt-Algeria row
Dec 20th, 2009 | By Joseph Mayton | Category: Egyptian Sport, Football, Sport
CAIRO: Egypt and Algeria appear to be kissing and making up after a recent spate of diplomatic angst following the two nations’ football match in Sudan that saw Algeria advance to next year’s World Cup in South Africa. The violence that erupted between Egyptians and Algerians in Sudan, Egypt and Algeria, left much official frustration.
The rhetoric, attacks on each country’s citizens and symbols, left observers worried that the match was taking on a much larger conscience in both peoples’ psyche. They were right, as following the match in Khartoum, Egyptian demonstrators attacked the Algerian Embassy in Cairo, before moving to storefronts, smashing and demolishing windows.
Police intervened and shut down the upscale Zamalek area shortly after the violent outburst began.
Cyber wars took place online, as reported by Bikya Masr, between Egyptian and Algerian fans in the lead up to the match. But, it was after the match that the situation heated up as Egypt was left on the outs of next year’s World Cup.
Amr Adeeb, anchor of “Al-Qahira Al-Youm (Cairo Today), said following the loss that â€the night before the match in Cairo, what annoys me is the way the Algerians talk … this provocation, this conceit … Why do the Algerians hate us so much? We supported them during their million-martyr revolution; we sent them teachers to teach them Arabic.â€
According to Gulf News, Algerian and Egyptian youths composed rap songs demonizing their opponents as “villains who must always lose.â€
The anger over the matches also went to the highest political authorities in Egypt. Alaa Mubarak, son of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, used television talk shows to complain about the behavior of Algerians in Khartoum, denouncing their “terrorist†conduct.
Now, weeks on, the situation appears to be calming as Egyptians have taken on European football as their outlet from the frustration of World Cup disaster. Cafes are again lined with fans supporting their favorite clubs, cheering and rooting as if nothing happened.
Ahmed Younis, a 28-year-old marketing executive, says that what happened is “in our past, we can’t keep wondering what would have been, because we always see this disappointment when it comes to our sports and we get very angry over it.”
He says that despite all the anger and frustration and violence that ensued after last month’s match, Egyptians will be out in force come June when the World Cup kicks off.
“After all is said and done, we will be cheering for Algeria to beat England, the United States and Slovenia in the World Cup. We Arabs like to be dramatic, but in the end we will support our fellow Arab,” he added.
BM
Keep advertising off Bikya Masr - donate $1 to allow this to be possible
[...] hate us so much? We supported them during their million-martyr revolution; … More here: The end of the Egypt-Algeria row | Bikya Masr Share and [...]
[...] More: The end of the Egypt-Algeria row | Bikya Masr [...]
[...] The end of the Egypt-Algeria row | Bikya Masr Share and [...]
[...] the original post here: The end of the Egypt-Algeria row | Bikya Masr Share and [...]
Pathetic and biased reporting.
I’m really surprised how you could be so biased in your reporting when you are actually in Egypt now? You should be one of the better people who report on this issue. Unfortunately, you’re not.
You failed to mention destruction and looting in Algeria against Egyptian business — destruction worth millions of dollars. And when you say “attack Algerian embassy” — make it clear the not a single brick from the Algerian embassy was touched.
You’re in Egypt. Use that! Listen to people. Some of them may be biased, but do your research!
(feel free to not publish. In fact, don’t.)
please read the archives
What the hell are you talking about. All these lies about Egyptians forgetting and cheering algeria!!! who do you talk to or what are you smoking? i think you live in 1950s. forget about it …. no one from Egypt will be cheering for those animals… you kidding me.. !!!!! stop playing that role cause it ain’t going to work now. i’ll tell you when will it work, when we get them back for that vicious attacks on us they did in Sudan. Before this happens, you need to stop your lies and chill. And please do us a favor, stop generalizing in your sentences. its bad reporting .
Well it is about time that this whole saga comes to an end! There is been too much talk and insults on Algeria and the Algerians, I really hope that anyone who said anything bad now is the time they should reflect and think carefully before they speak or open their mouth in the future.
Being dramatic maybe is acceptable but losing dignity is not
Guys, I think this is just a media experiment or something.
I’ve never read anything more biased than this on bikyamasr.com, and it’s sad actually.
“they were right, as following the match in Khartoum, Egyptian demonstrators attacked the Algerian Embassy in Cairo, before moving to storefronts, smashing and demolishing windows.” And the entire piece has the same attitude.
Joseph, please check your facts and PLEASE limit the ridiculously biased reporting. It is not necessary. In fact, it is harmful for you if you are a supporter of balanced reporting.
all my friends till now telling me -bring us some algerians-))))))) sure they r joking but they didn’t forget what happened in november…