Imagine all football games in the Premier League are played with no fans allowed in the stadium. Wembley, Old Trafford, Emirates, and Etihad are suddenly deserted from all but the players and managers. What would English football look like? How would the sponsors, sports channels, clubs and the advertising business make their profits? And how on earth would people enjoy watching these games on the weekend?

You would think the sky would fall and the whole footballing world would collapse? Wrong. Let me introduce you again to the Egyptian model.

In Egypt, the games are being played without any spectators at all since 2012 (except for their intermittent appearance in big championships that Egypt has hosted).

However, football kept its momentum and flourished. The prescription is simple and easy to understand: fanaticism, fanaticism and more fanaticism.

The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Show all 43 1 /43 The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing We’re going to stick our neck on the line here. We’re confident that you’re not going to know that at least 30 of these 42 footballers are still going strong.



World Cup finalists, Champions League winners, Manchester United rejects … they’re all in here. And make sure to let us know if we’ve forgotten anybody particularly noteworthy. The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Michael Essien (Sabail) The Ghana international is still going strong at the ripe old age of 37. Has starred for Panathinaikos and the pleasingly named Persib Bandung in recent seasons – now with Sabail in the Azerbaijan Premier League. We would love to provide you with some more information, but the club was only formed four years ago and their Wikipedia page is still 50 words long. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Roque Santa Cruz (Olimpia) The former Bayern Munich, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City striker returned to his youth team, Olimpia, in 2016 and has helped his new (old?) side win the Paraguayan title. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Eric Djemba-Djemba (FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues) So good they named him twice. Good enough for Swiss fifth-tier side FC Vallorbe-Ballaigues, anyway. The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama) Began his career at Yokohama Marinos – who he played over 300 times for across two different spells – so eyebrows were raised when he joined cross-town rivals Yokohama FC last season. 41-years-old, but a spring chicken compared to 52-year-old team-mate Kazuyoshi Miura. There must be something in the Yokohama water. The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Nigel de Jong (Al-Shahania) The 2010 World Cup finalist and infamous kung-fu kicker now plays for Al-Shahania SC in the Qatar Stars League. Liverpool FC via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Pascal Chimbonda (Ashton Town) Look up the word ‘nomad’ in the dictionary and there’s a picture of Pascal Chimbonda. Since leaving Blackburn Rovers in 2011, the full-back has played for – deep breath – Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers, Market Drayton Town, Carlisle United, AC Arles-Avignon, Washington and Ashton Town. Phew. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Claudio Pizarro (Werder Bremen) The 41-year-old still plays regularly for Werder Bremen, although he is yet to score in the Bundesliga this season. Bongarts/Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Yaya Toure (Qingdao Huanghai) Has repeatedly flirted with retirement only to change his mind and sign for another club. Currently turning out for Qingdao Huanghai, helping them to win promotion to the Chinese Super League last season. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Milan Baros (Baník Ostrava) The former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Portsmouth striker – who won the golden boot at Euro 2004 – is back in his native Czech Republic playing for Baník Ostrava. The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Alex Hleb (Isloch Minsk Raion) Hleb played against former club Arsenal when BATE Borisov were drawn in their Europa League group last season. This summer, he left the Belarusian side for an incredible SIXTH time, to sign for Isloch Minsk Raion. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Matthew Kilgallon (Hydrebad FC) The 36-year-old defender, who starred in the Premier League for Leeds United, Sheffield United and Sunderland, made surely one of the most bizarre transfers of all-time when he switched the wind and rain at Hamilton Academical for Hyderabad FC of the Indian Super League. The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Robinho (İstanbul Başakşehir) The former Real Madrid and Manchester City striker left Atlético Mineiro in 2017, heading to Turkey to play for Sivasspor and, now, İstanbul Başakşehir. But the goals haven’t been forthcoming – he has managed just four in 30. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Demba Ba (İstanbul Başakşehir) Robinho plays up front for İstanbul Başakşehir alongside … Demba Ba! And the old Premier League favourite has been much more successful, managing 8 in 23 since his transfer from Shanghai Shenhua. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Gael Clichy (İstanbul Başakşehir) The İstanbul Başakşehir banter doesn't stop there. The Turkish outfit currently have 34-year-old Arsenal turncoat Gael Clichy starring at left-back, where he plays alongside... AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Martin Skrtel (İstanbul Başakşehir) ... Martin Skrtel! With hair! Now 35-years old, the ex-Liverpool man moved to the club from Atalanta. He left the Italian side after just three weeks, reportedly after his wife took a dislike to northern Italy. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Thomas Vermaelen (Vissel Kobe) The former Arsenal and Barcelona defender followed Andrés Iniesta to Japanese side Vissel Kobe. Last seen missing a penalty in the worst shootout of all time. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart) Returned to his boyhood club VfB Stuttgart upon leaving Wolfsburg in 2018 and has been a success down in 2. Bundesliga, featuring regularly. Bongarts/Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Brad Guzan (Atlanta United) Remarkably, still only 35. Still at MLS outfit Atlanta United, the club he joined upon leaving Middlesbrough in 2017. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Reto Ziegler (Dallas) The former Tottenham man now turns out for FC Dallas, after signing for Juventus in 2011 and failing to ever make an appearance. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Mousa Dembéle (Guangzhou R&F) No, the Tottenham legend didn’t retire after leaving Spurs last season. Instead he joined Guangzhou R&F despite his well-documented injury problems. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Keisuke Honda (Botafogo) The Japanese icon has an awful lot on his plate these days. Keisuke Honda currently plays for Brazilian side Botafogo while also working as general manager and coach of the, er, Cambodia national team. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Vagner Love (Corinthians) The Brazilian forward with a legendary penchant for hanky-panky only lasted two seasons at Beşiktaş and is now back in Brazil playing for Corinthians. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Carlos Tevez (Boca) The 36-year-old is still turning out for Boca Juniors. He’s now in his third spell at the club. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Lukas Podolski (Antalyaspor) The 34-year-old made waves when he left Galatasaray to sign for Vissel Kobe. But the former Germany international left the Japanese side only last month, to sign for Turkish side Antalyaspor. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Jo (Nagoya Grampus) Somewhat incredibly – former Manchester City man Jo is still just 32-years-old. And he’s banging in the goals, too: he’s scored 30 in 65 league outings for Nagoya Grampus. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Alexander Büttner (New England Revolution) The Manchester United cult hero signed for MLS outfit New England Revolution for the 2020 season. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Brad Jones (Al-Nassr) The Australian goalkeeper turned out for just about every club in England before departing for NEC in 2016. Moved to Feyenoord a year later and now stars for Saudi side Al-Nassr FC. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Emre Belozoglu (Fenerbache) 39-years-old and still going strong during his second stint at Fenerbahçe. A regular for the Turkey national team, too. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Nani (Orlando) The former Manchester United man enjoyed a successful season with Sporting last year. He left in the summer, for Orlando City. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Salomon Kalou (Hertha Berlin) Until very recently the 34-year-old former Chelsea forward was still banging in the goals for Hertha Berlin. Had a falling out with Jürgen Klinsmann but his fortunes could improve after the Germany legend stepped down after just ten weeks in charge. Bongarts/Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Jay Bothroyd (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo) The 37-year-old – who famously left Coventry for Perugia in 2003 – has recently turned out for Muangthong United, Júbilo Iwata and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Maynor Figueroa (Houston Dynamo) The Honduran legend has become an MLS favourite in recent years. Now playing for Houston Dynamo after successful stints at Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Nedum Onuoha (Real Salt Lake) The England defender played in over 200 matches for QPR, leaving in 2018 for Real Salt Lake. His reasoning? “I have always been someone that wanted to go an experience something a bit different.” Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Papiss Cisse (Alanyaspor) The Newcastle United favourite is still banging in the goals. He has a very respectable 31 in 44 for Turkish side Alanyaspor. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Steven Caulker (Alanyaspor) After Caulker's bizarre loan move to Liverpool in 2016, where he featured as an emergency centre-forward, he took his talents north of the border with Dundee, but that move didn't last long after triggering an option to depart Dens Park. Now at Alanyaspor in Turkey, the centre-back is regaining his form. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Cameron Jerome (Göztepe) Perennially never good enough for the Premier League, but a reliable source of goals in the Championship, yet Jerome is yet to crack the Turkish Super League either. Just two goals in his time at Goztepe, a move back to England appears inevitable this summer. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Ricardo Quaresma (Kasımpaşa) Master of the trivela, Quaresma is an enigma, who has endured some bizarre spells around Europe in his career, including a brief stint at Chelsea in 2009. Quaresma found a home of sorts at Besiktas and has remained in Turkey at 36 years of age with Kasimpasa. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing John Obi Mikel (Trabzonspor) The uproar surrounding his move to Chelsea meant he would never quite justify the hype, yet Mikel was invaluable to most of the managers at Stamford Bridge due to his tactical intelligence and reliability to carry out instructions at the base of the midfield. His flair and creativity came out when featuring for Nigeria, but after a bizarre spell at Middlesbrough, he finds himself at Trabzonspor and still only 32. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Hugo Rodallega (Denizlispor) A decent source of goals for both Wigan and Fulham, Rodallega has made a name for himself in Turkey over the last five years; the Colombian has more than 50 goals for Akhisar Belediyespor, Trabzonspor and now Denizlispor. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Stéphane Sessègnon (Gençlerbirliği) Capable of the spectacular in his time at Sunderland and West Brom, the Benin forward, now 35, is rolling out for struggling Gençlerbirliği, who will likely need more than one goal from him this term to beat the drop. AFP via Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Bradley Wright-Phillips (LAFC) The MLS marksman has carved out a cult following in the States due to his time with the Red Bulls, smashing 108 goals to shoot up to eighth in their all-time top scorers list, expect the 34-year-old to add to that total after joining LAFC, where he'll hope Carlos Vela can supply the bullets for him to fire them to glory. Getty Images The 42 footballers you had no idea were still playing Odion Ighalo (Manchester United) Okay, this one is cheeky, but surely we were not the only ones to completely forget the former Watford man was still playing until Ed Woodward nabbed him from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. AFP via Getty Images

Al-Ahly and Zamalek are the most prominent football rivals in Egypt, and probably the whole Middle East. The clubs enjoy sweeping popularity across the region, and when they lock their horns, the entire country gets on its toes.

In the Egyptian Super Cup game, played in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, antagonism prevailed at all levels. Some players wrestled each other on the pitch. The Zamalek captain responded to boos and chants from the fans by making offensive, obscene gestures, and the media poured more fuel on the fire. After the match, the two clubs didn’t waste time and waged a war of statements against each other. The fans, including family members and friends, scuffled on social media in a national row over the game that ended with Zamalek winning the penalty shoot-outs and the cup. Egypt went crazy.

In another game also against Al-Ahly, scheduled to take place on Monday, Zamalek players didn’t show up on time. The Egyptian federation confirmed it would impose severe sanctions on the club. Zamalek’s off-the-lead president said he feared the event would turn into a bloody confrontation, not a football match.

Egyptian football doesn’t have strong foundations and is nowhere near consolidating to become a reliable industry. It is instead a parasite system run by an oligarch-like network of sponsorship and advertising empire, all serving a gigantic media machine. The media is owned, in significant part, by the government and multi-millionaires linked to president Abdelfattah al-Sisi’s regime.

And while the UK follows a system which allows shared viewership of football to set the relationship between the TV big guns, Egyptian media is engaged in a cutthroat competition for viewers. The result is an antagonistic partisan and endless civil war between the media patrons and their hot-headed Ahly and Zamalek former players racing for likes and shares on social media by appeasing their old fans.

If the UK has one Match of the Day show, Egypt has multiple terrible and antagonistic versions of it.

But this system is about to take football in Egypt away from consensual sports rules and its moral obligations in a very violent way. If fellow Iraqis, Syrians, Lebanese and Yemenis are drawing their politics on sectarian lines, Al-Ahly and Zamalek are the real Sunna and Shia of Egypt. “Football sectarianism” is entrenched and the division is deeply rooted in the character of the fans on both sides. And every day, they are itching for a confrontation.

In February 2012, More than 70 people were killed, and at least 1,000 injured in violence at the Port Said stadium near the Suez Canal, following the home side Al-Masry’s victory over Al-Ahly. Since then, fans were banned from attending football games at the stadiums. But this is not the whole picture. Politics is always in the details.

Since the 2011 uprising, football stadiums had been used as launching pads for political slogans and critics, mostly led by the Ultras, an organised group of young fans who played a role in the Tahrir Square protests. Now, Egyptian authorities know that Sisi lacks a dearth of popularity among Egyptian youth and they seem adamant not to give them a free live platform to attack his policies, especially the complete wipe-out of freedom of speech and the arbitrary rounding up of dissidents.

The authorities also make the neverending, contentious debates about football and culture central to its well-known policy of distraction away from politics, a policy that was boosted during the reign of former president Hosni Mubarak, ousted by the 2011 popular uprising and who died yesterday, aged 91.

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But, whoever is agitating this football hatred to appease Sisi or achieve political ends, is most certainly playing with fire.