The Muslim Brotherhood, the influential Islamist group from which President Mohamed Morsi hails, said on Sunday it would take part in the upcoming board elections of Cairo's popular club Zamalek.

"The group is considering fielding candidates or endorsing certain contenders in some posts during Zamalek's board of directors election," Gamal Abdallah, a member of the Brotherhood sports committee, said on the website of the group's political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party.

The cash-strapped Zamalek, best known for its popular football club which enjoys a large fan base in Egypt, should have a new board of directors in September.

Incumbent chairman Mamdouh Abbas, a wealthy businessman and a life-long Zamalek supporter, is expected to run for another term. He will face stiff competition from Mortada Mansour, an acid-tongued lawyer and a staunch opponent of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Brotherhood, which is accused by its critics of trying to monopolize power and "Brotherhoodise" state institutions, has stayed largely out of sports since Morsi became Egypt's first freely elected president last year.

"The group also intends to take part in all club elections in the coming period," Abdallah added.

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