CAIRO, Feb  9 : An investigation has started after at least 40 people were killed and dozens were injured in a stampede and clashes between police and supporters of Egypt's Zamalek football club at a game in Cairo, medics say.
According to witness accounts, police tried to set up barricades and used tear gas to disperse football fans trying to force their way into the army-owned stadium in the city's northeast on Sunday.
Egypt's public prosecutor ordered that an investigation begin immediately, while the incident prompted the government to postpone the Egyptian Premier League indefinitely, the prime minister's office said in a statement.
The Egyptian Interior Ministry said the clashes occurred after supporters of Zamalek, known as Ultras White Knights, tried to attend the game without buying tickets.
"Huge numbers of Zamalek club fans came to Air Defence Stadium to attend the match ... and tried to storm the stadium gates by force, which prompted the troops to prevent them from continuing the assault," the ministry said.
Politicised fans
Relations between security forces and fan groups known as Ultras have been tense since the 2011 popular uprising, when football supporters played a key role in ending the rule of Hosni Mubarak.
Ultras have often clashed with security forces in and outside of stadiums, and as well as in the context of political protests, police have been accused of using excessive force.    ?AL JAZEERA Online