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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Algeria footballers hurt in Cairo | Algeria footballers hurt in Cairo |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Four members of the Algerian football squad were injured when their team bus came under attack from stone throwers as it arrived in Cairo. | Four members of the Algerian football squad were injured when their team bus came under attack from stone throwers as it arrived in Cairo. |
| Algeria and Egypt, who are bitter football rivals, play a World Cup qualifying match in Cairo on Saturday. | Algeria and Egypt, who are bitter football rivals, play a World Cup qualifying match in Cairo on Saturday. |
| Egyptian police have denied that anyone was injured in the incident, and the press accuses the Algerians of fabricating the whole thing. | Egyptian police have denied that anyone was injured in the incident, and the press accuses the Algerians of fabricating the whole thing. |
| But a Fifa official has said three players might have to miss the match. | But a Fifa official has said three players might have to miss the match. |
| A reporter for Algerian radio said that about 200 young people appeared just as the team arrived at a Cairo hotel and launched a hail of stones at the bus. Algerian radio has been reporting that three players were injured. | A reporter for Algerian radio said that about 200 young people appeared just as the team arrived at a Cairo hotel and launched a hail of stones at the bus. Algerian radio has been reporting that three players were injured. |
| 'Blood on the floor' | 'Blood on the floor' |
| The Algerian sports minister, Hachemi Djiar, is reported to have described the incident as "very regrettable". | The Algerian sports minister, Hachemi Djiar, is reported to have described the incident as "very regrettable". |
| These weren't superficial injuries. With the stitches needed, we will have to see if these players can play Walter GaggFifa Crunch time for Egypt and Algeria Algeria-Egypt match: Your e-mails | These weren't superficial injuries. With the stitches needed, we will have to see if these players can play Walter GaggFifa Crunch time for Egypt and Algeria Algeria-Egypt match: Your e-mails |
| An official from Fifa, international football's governing body, told the AFP news agency that Algerian players were injured. | An official from Fifa, international football's governing body, told the AFP news agency that Algerian players were injured. |
| "We saw that three players had been injured - Khaled Lemmouchia on the head, Rafik Halliche above the eye and Rafik Saifi on the arm," Walter Gagg said. | "We saw that three players had been injured - Khaled Lemmouchia on the head, Rafik Halliche above the eye and Rafik Saifi on the arm," Walter Gagg said. |
| "These weren't superficial injuries. With the stitches needed, we will have to see if these players can play. The team doctor has still to make a decision on that," he added. | "These weren't superficial injuries. With the stitches needed, we will have to see if these players can play. The team doctor has still to make a decision on that," he added. |
| Mr Gagg also said that Algeria's goalkeeping coach had suffered concussion, and described the bus itself as in a "very bad way with broken windows and traces of blood on the floor". | Mr Gagg also said that Algeria's goalkeeping coach had suffered concussion, and described the bus itself as in a "very bad way with broken windows and traces of blood on the floor". |
| Riots | Riots |
| "The players were afraid. They were terrified," he said. | "The players were afraid. They were terrified," he said. |
| AFP also reported a Fifa spokesman as saying: "We have reiterated to the Egyptian association our request that all security measures be taken so that the match can go ahead." | AFP also reported a Fifa spokesman as saying: "We have reiterated to the Egyptian association our request that all security measures be taken so that the match can go ahead." |
| Egyptian and Algerian officials have been trying to calm tension ahead of the match. | Egyptian and Algerian officials have been trying to calm tension ahead of the match. |
| The teams have an intense rivalry that goes back decades. The last time they met in a major tournament in 1989, the match was followed by riots. | The teams have an intense rivalry that goes back decades. The last time they met in a major tournament in 1989, the match was followed by riots. |
| The Egyptian team has to win by a three-goal margin to qualify for the World Cup finals next year in South Africa. | The Egyptian team has to win by a three-goal margin to qualify for the World Cup finals next year in South Africa. |