Suspects in Egypt’s last football riot appeared on Tuesday in a trial, pleading not guilty in the country’s worst sort disaster which left more than 70 people dead in Port Said.

Suspects in Egypt’s last football riot appeared on Tuesday in a trial, pleading not guilty in the country’s worst sort disaster which left more than 70 people dead in Port Said.

The defendants began to plead "not guilty", denying the charges of premeditated murder and possession of weapons.
Amid chaotic scenes aired live on television, defendants dressed in white climbed on benches inside the cage, pointing to security officials on trial in the same case and blaming them from the violence.

The judge suspended the hearing as relatives of those who died in the violence, some holding pictures of their dead loved ones, sobbed in court.
One of the accused shouted that he had been brought in as a witness in the case but was shocked to find out that he had been charged along with the rest.

"We will die like them, or bring them justice," the defendants cried, echoing the chant on the streets during the protests that followed the football disaster on February 1 in the northern city of Port Said.

Nine policemen are among the defendants in the trial, which is being held in Cairo for security reasons, amid a massive security plan by the interior ministry and army.
The February 1 clashes in the Suez Canal city between fans of home side Al-Masry and Cairo's Al-Ahly erupted at the final whistle.

Al-Masry fans invaded the pitch after their team beat the visitors 3-1, throwing rocks, bottles and fireworks at Al-Ahly supporters, causing chaos and panic as players and fans fled in all directions.
The violence in which more than 70 people were killed was one of the deadliest incidents in football history, and came amid charges from witnesses that security forces did little to prevent the rioting.

Port Said stadium deaths also sparked days of violent protests in Cairo, in which another 16 people were killed.