File Photo: Zamalek fans. Ahram
The Cairo club launched a crowdfunding drive through the “Zamalkawy” fan application, with the digital initiative proving successful as it “gathered the required amount to resolve one of the club’s multiple FIFA-imposed transfer bans in less than 24 hours.”
The developers and operators of the application announced on Saturday that 100% of user subscription revenues are now being channeled directly toward settling the club’s staggering foreign debts.
"What has been achieved in just one day is a source of immense pride," the app's management said in an official statement.
"The upcoming phase requires the continuation of this same spirit and support. Zamalek, backed by their fans, are always capable of overcoming any challenge.
"To maintain total transparency, the application's management confirm that live, real-time financial dashboards will remain accessible inside the app, showing fans exactly how much money has been raised and where it is being directed to resolve the registration crisis,” the statement added.
The Cairo-based side are currently grappling with severe financial and administrative hurdles, with football's world governing body, FIFA, having imposed a succession of transfer bans against the club due to unresolved dues, with the total number of historical and active disputes reaching up to 18 cases.
The White Knights must settle approximately $6.17 million (around EGP 330 million) to completely clear their ledger and register new players ahead of the upcoming season.
This month, FIFA hit Zamalek with fresh three-window transfer ban, marking their 16th, 17th and 18th official cases on the governing body's portal, following an unresolved $400,000 dispute with former Belgian manager Yannick Ferrera and his assistants and $450,000 unpaid wages for their former Beninese striker Samson Akinyoola.
The Cairo-based must settle all outstanding cases before the end of May to obtain the license required to participate in inter-club competitions organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) next season.
The grassroots financial mobilization comes at a bittersweet moment for the Cairo heavyweights, as they clinched their 15th Egyptian Premier League title following their 1-0 win over Ceramica Cleopatra on Wednesday, offering immediate consolation to their loyal fanbase.
The club’s financial woes were severely compounded on 16 May, when they suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Algeria's USM Alger in the CAF Confederation Cup final. By failing to secure the continental trophy, Zamalek missed out on a 4-million-dollar cash prize that the board had desperately earmarked to pay off their FIFA fines.
With official avenues stretched thin, the club's passionate supporters have effectively taken matters into their own hands, proving once again that Zamalek's greatest asset remains their fanbase.
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