New sports law criminalizes unauthorized ‘ultras’ groups

CAIRO – 2 June 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ratified a new sports law criminalizing creating sports fan groups, known locally as ‘ultras,’ without obtaining a license. The decree was published in the official gazette Thursday.

The new law No. 71 of 2017 was discussed and approved by the Parliament on May 7. It imposes penalties and fines for spectators who verbally or physically assault other spectators or players or establish illegal fan groups or associations.

The law’s 96 articles regulate sporting activities and bodies, promotion, sports investments and spectators’ attendance. It also creates a judicial body that will have the power to judge sports disputes.

Article 91 of the sports law criminalizes the establishment or management of any sports association in violation of the basic statutes of sports bodies in accordance with the provisions of the law.

In lay terms, the ultras groups are expected to be included in the statutes of the sports bodies or the Guiding Regulations of the Olympic Committee. If they are not, those who organize or administrate such groups would be fined not less than LE 50,000 and not more than LE 200,000 ($2,700-11,000).

If any member of an illegal sports group engages in an activity that expresses its existence or spreads its ideas could be imprisoned for a term not to exceed three years and may be fined not less than LE 100,000 or maximum LE 300,000.

Ultras groups have long been in dispute with Egyptian security authorities, triggered by their involvement in many protests in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution that toppled three-decade ruler Hosni Mubarak from power.