Ever since the Egyptian revolution began last year, gangs of die-hard soccer fans, known as ultras, have been at the forefront of the protests, inveighing against former President Hosni Mubarak and the current military regime. Now the animosity between the ultras and the government has reached new levels. Last week, police clashed with protesters in cities like Suez and Cairo, killing at least four and injuring hundreds, including the man, center, in Egypt's capital. The cause of the rage: bloody violence between rival soccer gangs at a match in Port Said, where more than 70 were killed. Rumors quickly spread that the police had deliberately encouraged the melee by failing to check for weapons before the match-a standard procedure-and by standing idle as the mayhem ensued. Whether or not that's true, the news spurred non-ultras to join the subsequent protests and denounce what they view as a blatant attempt by the government to stir up chaos to justify greater control.
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