Egyptian YouTuber Marwan Serry
Serry's decision comes just days after acquiring a stake in the east London football club, citing the dismissal of fellow Egyptian content creator Salma Mashhour over her pro-Palestinian views.
Serry, 31, who has built a five-million strong following through his football-focused YouTube channel Erza3 focusing on British football, particularly outside the Premier League, made the announcement late on Friday via Instagram.
“I officially announce my complete withdrawal from the ownership of Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club and the cancellation of the investment project,” he said. “We will not compromise our principles, and legal procedures are under way to reclaim Salma’s rights. Thank you for your continued support.”
The move follows a whirlwind week for the non-league club.
On Monday, Dagenham & Redbridge introduced Serry as part of its new ownership structure, describing him as a “creative entrepreneur” and welcoming his large online fanbase.
Alongside him, the club appointed Mashhour as Director of Development and Engagement.
A well-known Arabic-language storyteller and YouTuber, Mashhour has played a prominent role in popularizing lower-league English football among Arab audiences.
Her influence, according to Serry, was instrumental in shaping his interest in non-league football.
The pair’s arrival at Dagenham was met with a surge in attention on social media, with hundreds of thousands of new Arab fans engaging with the club’s content and platform.
However, tensions escalated rapidly when Mashhour was dismissed from her role on Friday.
The club did not issue a formal explanation, but reports suggested that past pro-Palestinian posts on her social media had angered a long-standing supporter, who then announced he would stop backing the club.
The backlash appears to have contributed to internal pressure on the club’s leadership.
Serry, who appeared in a video with Mashhour hours after the dismissal, expressed his full support and vowed to pursue legal action.
In his subsequent withdrawal statement, he alleged that racism played a role in her removal and accused parts of the fanbase of being unwilling to accept them.
“We came here with a serious project and put in significant effort,” he said. “Some fans supported us and wanted to hear our ideas, but sadly, the majority refused to listen—for racial reasons.”
He also criticized the club’s handling of the situation.
“We were never informed of Salma’s dismissal or the reasons behind it. We’ve taken all the necessary legal steps to defend her rights. Ultimately, we’re standing by our principles,” he added.
The club has yet to comment on either Mashhour’s dismissal or Serry’s withdrawal.
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