Egypt bans football club head from media

Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation yesterday banned the chairman of Zamalek football club from making media appearances for two months.

Mortada Mansour was banned from appearing on all media outlets for two months, with the only exception being in relation to his activity as an Egyptian MP. In a statement, the council said: “The Supreme Council for Media Regulation, headed by Makram Mohamed Ahmed, decided to ban Zamalek club president from appearing in all media, video, audio, print, websites and newspapers for two months.”

The statement added that the ban has been imposed following a recommendation by the “Committee to Adjust Sports Media Performance” in order to “preserve national security”. The ban also intends to “prevent the provocation of Egyptian sports fans and symbols of Egyptian sport”.

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The council’s decision came after Egypt’s largest football club – Al-Ahly – filed a complaint against Mansour, accusing him of spreading false news with the aim of inciting hate and violence between sports fans. Al-Ahly and Zamalek have long been engaged in a bitter rivalry, with both teams based in Egyptian capital Cairo and playing the annual Cairo Derby.

In September, the African Football Confederation (CAF) decided to suspend Mansour for a full year and ordered that he pay a $40,000 fine after he criticised the organisation’s officials. The Egyptian Olympic Committee also decided to suspend Mansour.

In October, Mansour was banned from appearing on broadcast or written media outlets for three months for violations of freedom of speech and expression.

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