Ultras Ahlawy declares self-dissolution

CAIRO – 16 May 2018: Ultras Ahlawy announced their self-dissolution on Wednesday and burnt their banner, which is considered an end to the group’s activities in the custom of the worldwide Ultras mentality.

The group published a statement on their Facebook page saying that the decision was taken for the safety of the group members.

“We are supporting the state since our establishment and we will never be otherwise. We are a small part of Al-Ahly fans and we will never miss a game and will support the team,” the Ultras Ahlawy statement read.

Ultras fans have been associated with a cycle of violence since the outbreak of the January 25 Revolution in 2011. Members of both the Ultras White Knights (Zamalek fans) and Ultras Ahlawy were handed prison sentences over charges of enticing violence and protesting against security forces. They were also engaged in clashes with the police.

Fans are currently banned from domestic matches, but permitted to attend teams’ games at African competitions and national team games in the World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

A ban was imposed on fans attending matches since the deadly clashes that took place in February 2012, which killed dozens of fans in Port Said. Later demands to overturn the decision were only met with a limited scope.