Egypt Court Sentences 11 to Death After Fatal Football Riot – Reports

An Egyptian court sentenced 11 people to death over a 2012 football riot that claimed the lives of 74 people and injured hundreds, local media reported Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The massive riot occurred in the northeastern Egyptian city of Port Said after a match between the local Al-Masry football club and Cairo-based Al Ahly in February 2012.

Sunday’s sentences have been referred to Egypt’s top religious authority, the Grand Mufti, a standard procedure before passing the final death verdict, according to Daily News Egypt. The final decision is set to be announced on May 30.

A total of 73 people have been charged in the case, including several police officers and officials. The Port Said court initially sentenced 21 of the defendants to death in 2013 but an appeals court later ordered a retrial.