CAIRO — The launch of the league in Egypt this season has been postponed for a third time, this time until Feb. 1, the Egyptian Football Association said Sunday. The first round of matches will be played behind closed doors, a statement on the association's website said. It follows a weekend meeting between the EFA and two government ministers. Previous attempts to kick off the league have been blocked by government concerns football crowds could be a conduit for continuing civil disorder in the crisis-torn country. There has been no league football in Egypt since February when a stadium riot in Port Said at a match between Al-Masry and visiting Al-Ahli saw 74 people killed. The 2011-12 season was canceled and attempts to get the new campaign underway in September was canceled when protesting fans damaged the football association headquarters in Cairo. — Reuters
