Egyptian football is facing a new crisis on Sunday, with each of its poles Al Ahly and Zamalek holding a meeting to respond to the severe penalties imposed by the Disciplinary Committee against the background of the clashes between the players that took place after the Super Cup match, on the eve of a second expected match between them in the local league.
Zamalek decided the title of the Super Cup at the expense of his arch-rival Al-Ahly in Abu Dhabi last Thursday, by winning a penalty shootout 4-3 after a goalless draw. However, the match witnessed skirmishes between the players of both sides, which reached its climax, with the players exchanging stampede and abusive words.
On Saturday night, the Disciplinary Committee of the game union issued severe penalties against the background of these events, which included in particular the suspension of two players until the end of the season, Mahmoud Abdel Moneim (Kahraba), the player of Al-Ahly currently and Zamalek previously, and Imam Ashour, player of the White Castle (Zamalek).
In protest against the penalties of the Football Association .. # We want the right of Al-Ahly_a_Khatib tops the communication sites in # Egypt amid calls to suspend participation through #freedom_activities Monitoring Network (@RassdNewsN) February 23, 2020 |
The decision also included financial fines and penalties for suspension of the Zamalek leader Mahmoud Abdel Razek (Shikabala) eight games, and his colleague Abdullah Juma (three games) in addition to Yasser Ibrahim and Nigerian Junior Ajay in Al Ahly (two games each).
The committee also suspended the controversial head of the Zamalek club, Mortada Mansour, from participating in the game's activities for three games, even though the latter was not present in Abu Dhabi during the match.
Each club, for its part, called for an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors on Sunday in order to respond to the sanctions. Al-Ahly confirmed its intention to "fully protect the rights of the club and its players", while Zamalek indicated that he would discuss what was decided in order to respond to it.
Mansour had indicated in television statements that preventing him from attending games would cause his team to "not complete the league." Note that he often makes such statements, before returning to participate in the matches.
There is no 8 match for our son Hazem in front of me, my Jenin, not with a #freedom_activation_people_pic.twitter.com/r2rHFwALtt - Mekawy (@ mekawy07) February 23, 2020 |
This came amid the directing of the two parties and the fans - through the communication sites - severe criticism of Omar Al-Janaini, head of the temporary committee overseeing the affairs of the Federation since the resignation of its president Hani Abu Raida in the summer of 2019, after the exit of the team from the final price of the African Cup of Nations hosted at home.
# Freeze_activity_yahli because Mortada Mansour is the one who runs the Football Association and this is all a plan to stop electrifying pic.twitter.com/Zb1QTRPpBp - 💐 ZEIAD 💐 (@Zeiadlover) February 23, 2020 |
The two board meetings come on the eve of the upcoming summit between the two poles at Cairo International Stadium, which is a postponed match from the fourth stage.
Security requests the postponement of the match between Zamalek and Al-Ahly tomorrow ... and the official announcement of postponing the meeting this evening |
Al-Ahly tops the league standings with the full score (45 points) after achieving 15 wins in the 15 matches that have played so far, while Zamalek occupies third place with 31 points (from 15 games also).
But the white team enters the match tomorrow with strong spirits after crowning two titles within a week, the first of which is the African Super Cup at the expense of Esperance in Doha Qatar on February 14, and the second the local Super Cup at the expense of its rival in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on 20 of it.
# Freeze activity_ my family.Why.Electricity.Stops.Season.Wood.What takes a penalty. pic.twitter.com/sdXFh5vPrQ - Mostafa Amer (@ YiuwMHxYCH2h8z5) February 23, 2020 |
Al-Ahly players, led by their Swiss coach Rene Weiler, are striving to continue the ideal performance in the local league this season, and to approach the record equation achieved with 17 consecutive victories 2006-2007 season.
Freeze to some extent, the federation adds goodness. # Freeze_ Activity_people_pic.twitter.com/w1bVYbpPI0 - Ahmed Al-Jeaidi (@ahmedelgeidi) February 23, 2020 |
On the other hand, Zamalek, under the leadership of its French coach, Patrice Carteron (the former coach of the Red Club), seeks to build on the positive results achieved by the recent times, to win the second position (occupied by Arab contractors with 32 points from 17 games) and to keep the hope - albeit small - by competing on A league title that Al-Ahly seems extraordinary to retain.
The poles are preparing after the meeting scheduled tomorrow to start their participation in the quarter-finals of the African Champions League, as Zamalek hosts Esperance on Friday, while Mamelodi Sundowns will visit South Africa as Al-Ahly guest on Saturday.