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An Egyptian court on Sunday took a step towards imposing the death penalty on 11 men for their involvement in deadly soccer stadium violence in 2012.

The judge referred the sentencing to the most senior religious authority in the country, the Grand Mufti, who will decide whether the death sentence will be valid or not.

73 people were killed and at least 1,000 injured in the 2012 incident, when Egyptian soccer fans of rival clubs al-Masry and Cairo’s Al Ahli staged a pitch invasion leading to a stampede in the city of Port Said

They are charged with murder, vandalism, resisting the authorities and the possession of explosive materials.

The incident halted football activity nationwide, until Egypt’s premier league resumed on March 30, yet without spectators.