One year ban, fine for Zamalek President Mortada Mansour
Ahmed Abd El Rasoul, , Saturday 29 Sep 2018
Pyramids Football Club owner set to withdraw from Egypt after attacks from disgruntled Ahly fans, while Zemalek FC President receives ban and a fine from the Confederation of African Football.


Zamalek president Moratada Mansour has been suspended for one year and fined by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after his recent statements against CAF officials.

"The committee found that the behaviour of the president of Zamalek FC Mortada Mansour was in contravention of article 87, and as such was punishable in terms of article 85.1 read together with article 131.1, 131.2 and 132.1," read a statement by CAF on Saturday.

Mansour verbally abused CAF president Ahmad Ahmad and Secretary General Amr Fhamy last week for not imposing punishments for Ahly fans. The comments had come after Ahly fans verbally attacked the head of Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority Turki Al-Sheikh in a Champions league match a week ago.

The angry fans had charged that Al-Sheikh is responsible for recent conflict between their club and the Saudi football association over the timing of a Saudi-Egyptian super cup match.

The statement added that "the president of Zamalek is hereby banned from performing any kind of football related activity (administrative, sports or any other) for a period one year and is further fined the sum of $40,000."

It continued to highlight that "the member association will immediately inform their club Zamalek FC and ensure that this sanction is adhered to, failing which the committee reserves the right to investigate and sanction any breach of this provision by Zamalek FC."

Following the attack by Ahly fans, Saudi investor and Pyramids Football Club owner Turki Al-Sheikh decided to stop investing in Egypt.

Controversial and outspoken lawyer Mortada Mansour quickly reacted to the situation saying that Turki had already sold his house in Egypt. He then blamed Ahly's management for being responsible for the insults and called on the Saudi investor to reconsider his decision.

"The insults [of Ahly fans] are caused by Amr Fahmy, the boy who established the Ultras and who is always drunk. If you are not drunk 24 hours a day come to me and I will do a test for you" Mansour said about the CAF General Secretary. Amr Fahmy was appointed to the role of General Secretary in 2017.

Rumors arose on Friday that Mansour could be hit with sanctions by CAF, a possibility that angered the Zamalek president.

"I am not a footballer to be banned. If they imposed any sanctions on me, CAF won't exist anymore in Egypt," Mansour told a TV program during the early hours of Saturday morning.

"I will take their headquarters in Cairo and rent it" he said.

He concluded that "Zamalek is facing a conspiracy especially after the team's outstanding performance in the Egyptian league."

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