UAE president issues pardon in football match incident

President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced a pardon for three individuals involved in the recent incident during the football match between Egypt's Zamalek and Pyramids clubs, held in Abu Dhabi.

The match escalated into chaos on October 20 2024, leading to significant disturbances both on and off the field. Tensions rose as fans from both teams clashed, resulting in confrontations that prompted intervention by public security forces. The situation intensified when several players and club director from Zamalek allegedly assaulted public employees who were attempting to restore order.

Authorities conducted a thorough investigation, gathering evidence and testimonies from witnesses. This led to the arrest of two Zamalek players and club's director, who faced serious charges related to their conduct during the match. The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court sentenced them to one month in prison and a fine of 200,000 AED each after they were found guilty of assaulting public employees during the match and inciting disorder among fans.

In its ruling, the court provided detailed reasoning for its decision. After thoroughly reviewing the case and evaluating the circumstances and evidence, the court concluded that the charges against the defendants were substantiated. This determination was based on consistent testimonies from victims and corroborating footage from the incident. The court also noted that the accused had disregarded safety regulations, jeopardizing the well-being of public employees tasked with securing the event.