From sport to entertainment .. Does Al-Sheikh control Egyptian art?

Bassem Magdy-Cairo

The news of the exemption of Turki Al-Sheikh from his position as head of the General Authority of Sport in Saudi Arabia sparked a cynical reaction to the Egyptian media, with the announcement of his assumption of the presidency of the Entertainment Authority.

"The management of sports is one of the most difficult institutions because you deal with an emotional center that releases its judgments from the heart rather than the mind.

From playgrounds to theaters
After his decision to head the General Authority for Entertainment, Al-Sheikh wrote on his Facebook page that he will start from the middle of next month a tour to sign entertainment and plays, the first station will be Egypt, the United Kingdom, America and Portugal.

Al-Shaykh has caused great controversy in Egypt because of his interventions in major clubs such as Al Ahly and Zamalek, prompting Al Ahmar fans to attack him with cheers during a football match with the Conakry Ghani team in September. This angered the Sheikh and announced his intention to withdraw from investing in sport The Egyptian.

He was appointed as honorary president before Al-Ahly broke up with Al-Ahli. The Al-Shaikh apologized for his honorable presidency and his attack on the Council led by Mahmoud Al-Khatib. He then went to buy Pyramids Sports Club to compete in the league.

According to press reports on the continuation of Al-Sheikh in support of Zamalek club after leaving the presidency of the General Authority for Sport, and confirmed reports that close to the Sheikh confirmed to Zamalek officials continue to bear the salary of the technical director.

Technical ambitions
But the appointment of the new Sheikh seems to be in line with his artistic ambitions. The Egyptians have known him as a close friend of a number of actors, raising questions about what he can do with his huge money in the Egyptian art scene, just as he did with sport.

Al-Sheikh is associated with a relationship of friendship with singer Amr Diab, and wrote a number of his lyrics in his last two albums.

In October, Diab published a picture of the Sheikh's family in America, commenting on "a visit to my beloved Abu Nasser to check on him, magician."

On the other hand, actress Maher raised the controversy about her relationship with the Sheikh's family over the past year. She released a document in March accusing him of assaulting her at her home in the Maadi neighborhood of Cairo, and issued a statement before denying rumors of his marriage.

The announcer Mohammed Al-Ghaiti said that Maher married Al-Sheikh, adding that the latter put a private plane at the disposal of Maher, and explained that Al-Sheikh produced an album for Diab and made him sing a special song for her, expressing his fear of his control of Egyptian art.

While the group of Egyptian media - which is controversial about its association with the Egyptian intelligence - controls most Egyptian satellite channels and produces serials and films, the most prominent private satellite channels are the MBC Egypt channels of the Saudi group.

Earlier media reports of Sheikh Al-Sheikh's influence on the media were reported after he intervened to stop the television program "ET in Arabic" on MBC because of his relationship with actress Maher.

Does Al-Sheikh take advantage of his new position and his huge money to be a major player in Egyptian art, whether by buying satellite channels - as he did at Pyramids Sports - or creating a special production company or is he only limited to mastering the works of great artists like he did with Diab?