A court in Egypt has given death sentences to 11 people over a football stadium riot in the canal city of Port Said three years ago.

The sentences were handed down on Sunday after a retrial over the 2012 incident which claimed 74 lives.

In February 2014, the retrial of 73 defendants was ordered by an appeals court after it rejected a lower court verdict that had sentenced 21 people to death for being involved in the deadly riot.

The death sentences of the 11 football fans have been referred to Egypt's grand mufti and the court will determine their fates, as well as those of the other defendants, on May 30.

Hardcore soccer fans in Egypt often clash with police during football matches.

The 2012 riot broke out in February 2012 when supporters of home team Al-Masry and Cairo's Al-Ahly clashed following a match between the two clubs.

The mayhem prompted Egyptian government to hold football games before limited crowds from then on.

In early February 2015, several people were killed during clashes between police and fans before a football match between Zamalek and Enppi in Cairo.