“@rbecker51: #Egypt national football coach, American Bob Bradley, speaks of egypt politicshttp://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/2950/bradley-speaks-of-port-said-frustration?cc=3888 …”better than US politicians!
Bradley speaks of emotions surrounding Port Said
KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty ImagesSpeaking from Cairo, former U.S. national team manager Bob Bradley echoed the "frustration" in Egypt that precipitated this weekend's riots.With Egypt once again racked by violence, national team coach Bob Bradley spoke of the tension and emotion gripping the country.
On Sunday, violence erupted in the northern city of Port Said after an Egyptian court handed down death sentences to 21 individuals connected with the deadly riot that took place in the same city last February. On that occasion, a match between Port Said club Al-Masry and Cairo-based Al-Ahly resulted in a riot that cost 74 Al-Ahly supporters their lives.
News: 27 killed in riots after judge's verdict
In this latest round of violence, reports stated that at least 27 people had died as relatives of those who were sentenced stormed the prison where defendants were being held. This comes on the heels of clashes Friday between police and protesters marking the second anniversary of the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak. Eleven people perished in that incident.
"Like everything here, it's complicated," Bradley said via telephone from Cairo. "I think going into today, most people thought there would probably be a delay, that there would be no announcement. So this initial announcement of 21 names brought a lot of emotion from certainly the families that lost loved ones [last year], and from the [Al-Ahly Ultras]. I think in that regard, there was some initial feeling of justice. But at the same time, the verdict just adds to the long list of questions that have been there since the tragedy took place on Feb. 1 of last year."
