An Egyptian court seems to be determined to stamp out foot ball hooliganism once for all. In a verdict that shocked the relatives of the accused into shouting, verbal abuse and even fainting, the court handed over death sentence to the ‘football hooligans’ finding them to be the cause of the death of 74 people who lost their lives in the resulting stampede.

A court in Egypt has given death sentences to 21 men found guilty of taking part in football violence last February.

In total 73 people have been accused of taking part in the Football violence at a Cairo derby match in which 74 people died, mostly fans of the al-Ahly club.

Families of the Football violence victims exploded with emotion in the court as the sentence was read out. The remaining 52 accused will discover their fate in March.

Spectators were trampled to death in the Football violence disaster as panicked crowds tried to flee the stadium after the pitch was invaded by al-Masry fans following the final whistle.

Soccer fans and families of those killed had threatened more violence if the punishments did not satisfy them.

Two people died in protests at the prison where the accused are being held as families attempted to break them out. Gunfire has been reported in the vicinity.