Egyptian soccer fans are still barred from attending league matches because of deadly clashes at some events in the past few years. However, Minister of Youth and Sports Khaled Abdel Aziz seems optimistic that the ban could be lifted before too long.
His hope might be buoyed by the government's recent decision to emphasize the potential for sports tourism, in a bid to boost the ailing economy, or perhaps he is encouraged by parliament's consideration of a proposed law designed to regulate fan attendance and introduce harsher punishments for those arrested at soccer games.