73 dead in Egyptian football riots

RIOTS after a football match in Egypt's Port Said have left 73 people dead and at least 1000 injured, in what a deputy minister called the biggest disaster in the nation's football history.

Violence at football matches across north Africa has increased significantly since political unrest began sweeping the region more than a year ago, and one player described Wednesday's riot as "a war, not football".

Angry politicians and sports officials decried a lack of security at the match between Port Said team Al-Masry and Al-Ahly, one of Egypt's most successful clubs, and blamed the nation's leaders for allowing - or even causing - the tragedy.

Wednesday's trouble flared at the end of a match when Al-Masry beat Al-Ahly 3-1.

The Australian embassy in Cairo said it was not aware that any foreigners were caught up in the riots, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said.

Read more at Brisbane Times