Moves at Sports Ministry to Resolve Zamalek General Assembly Crisis and Football Company Dispute

Broadcaster Amir Hesham revealed moves within Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports to find a way out of the crisis over Zamalek Club’s general assembly and the dispute over the ownership shares in the football company, amid opposition from club figures and supporters to investors taking the largest share.

Hesham said on his programme that Youth and Sports Minister Gohar Nabil met Mohamed Diab, Mohamed Soliman, Mahmoud Azmy and members of the legal affairs department to discuss the legal and administrative aspects related to the general assembly and the vote on the company’s ownership shares. He added that some board members have reservations about the proposed shares for investors.

According to Hesham, the issues include the possibility that the general assembly may not meet the legal quorum; if the decision is referred to the board, the proposed shares could be officially approved if the competent administrative body does not object on legal grounds.

He said one proposal discussed was to postpone approval for the general assembly to convene until the end of the current board’s term, or to point to its one-year term, on the grounds that making a strategic decision about investors in the football team would not be appropriate, according to the proposal, with one year remaining in the term. He noted the possibility of delaying approval for the assembly to be held while seeking a way out of the crisis.

Hesham noted that establishing the football company and approving its proposed shares would not settle the debate, as another general assembly would be required to approve the investors who will inject investment into the company. He said opposition to investors taking the largest share makes it harder to reach an agreement that satisfies the parties.