Egypt recalls ambassador to Algeria over soccer game

[iandhr]

Source: Haaretz

Egypt has recalled its ambassador to Algeria for consultations as part of a growing diplomatic row caused by a bitter soccer rivalry between the two Arab nations.

The Egyptian foreign ministry also summoned Algeria's ambassador in Cairo to express to him its extreme dismay over attacks on Egyptian fans in the Sudanese capital Khartoum after a soccer match between the two nations there. Egypt also complained Thursday about attacks on Egyptian interests in Algeria following a Saturday World Cup qualifying game in Cairo that Egypt won 2-0.

The 2-0 result left Egypt and Algeria level on points and with the same number of goals scored and conceded. The two played a make-or-break match in Khartoum Wednesday that Algeria won 1-0 to advance to the 2010 World Cup.

Egypt's ambassador to Sudan said Thursday that "the Egyptian fans were attacked in the streets. President Mubarak called the Sudanese president and asked him to take action to prevent the deterioration of the delicate situation," Channel 10 reported.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129351.html

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. The Irish Should recall their ambassador from France

That game was highway robbery.

[Captain Hilts]

3. It really was. I guess the lesson from FIFA is 'cheaters prosper' . nt

[VWolf]

8. They're already calling it

The Hand of Frog

[Renew Deal]

2. Why would they play that game in Sudan?

That's just crazy, though not as crazy as how Ireland lost.

[rabs]

4. Egypt-Algeria wound up tied in their group

So a playoff was held at a neutral site, Sudan.

[Renew Deal]

10. Couldn't they find anywhere else to play the game?

There's like 50 other countries in Africa. Almost all of them are better choices than Sudan.

[T_i_B]

7. That fixture has a very bad history

and as such it needs to be played at a neutral venue.

[VWolf]

9. Before Egypt's 2-0 win last week,

the Algerians claimed that their team bus was attacked by Egyptian fans. The authorites insisted that the windows were broken from the inside, implying that the attack was staged, but who really knows.

[Renew Deal]

11. OK, but Sudan?

Why not go to Somalia and really have fun?

[imdjh]

5. On the bright side, it's nice to see so many people interested in women's sports

:hide:

[proteus_lives]

6. Another Football War?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War