UAE President pardons defendants in football match assault case

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a directive to pardon the defendants involved in the recent football match incident between Egypt's Zamalek and Pyramids clubs, which occurred in Abu Dhabi on October 20th.

This gesture embodies the deep fraternal bond between the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Republic of Egypt, reflecting His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s steadfast commitment to reinforcing the ties of brotherhood that unite the two nations and their peoples.

Earlier, the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court handed down a sentence of one month's imprisonment and a fine of Dhs200,000 to three football players from the Egyptian Zamalek club. The players were convicted of assaulting public employees while performing their duties and of inciting public disorder and riots in front of fans during the football match between Zamalek and Pyramids in Abu Dhabi on October 20.

In its ruling on the conviction, the court set forth the rationale behind its decision, noting that after a comprehensive examination of the case and a careful consideration of its circumstances, conditions, and the evidence supporting the accusation, it was determined that the charges against the accused were substantiated.

This conclusion was reached after a thorough examination of the statements made by the victims during the investigations conducted by the Public Prosecution, which were found to be consistent with the footage obtained from the scene of the incident. Additionally, the court established that the accused had failed to adhere to the established regulatory controls and had placed the safety of public employees responsible for securing the sporting event at risk.

WAM