From Splash to Courtroom: Egypt's Swimming Federation Faces Criminal Trial
22 December 2025
Prosecution orders trial of federation officials
Public prosecutors in Egypt have ordered the president and members of the Swimming Federation's board, its chief executive, the head of competitions, the director of the national championship, the chief referee, and three lifeguards to face urgent criminal charges, with December 25, 2025, set as the start date for the first hearing.
Findings and next steps
According to the prosecutors, the decision stems from allegations that they caused the death of young swimmer Yusuf Mohammed Ahmed Abdel Malik through negligence and gross dereliction of duty during the national championship.
Prosecutors added: Investigation findings, supported by a forensic report, show the victim had no underlying illness or stimulants, and that the death was due to drowning suffocation.
The report said the child lost consciousness after the race and remained at the bottom of the pool long enough to fill his lungs with water and stop the heart.
Testimonies also stated that rescue attempts after the body was recovered were improvised and unsuccessful given the duration the swimmer remained at the bottom, with no notice from organizers or lifeguards.
Interviews and investigations indicated many federation board members and event officials lacked adequate experience or knowledge of organizational and technical rules.
Investigations also noted organizational chaos, including a mismatch between the number of swimmers, pool capacity, and the event's duration; parents' testimonies and scene simulations conducted by the prosecutor's office corroborated this.
In a parallel administrative step, prosecutors ordered copies of the files sent to the Ministry of Youth and Sports to take necessary measures against the federation and Al-Zohour Sporting Club under Sports Law No. 71 of 2017.
Prosecutors also pointed to serious neglect in implementing ministerial decisions, including Decision No. 1642 of 2024 on medical procedures to ensure athletes' safety, stressing the need to pursue administrative accountability alongside criminal accountability.
The public prosecutor closed by honoring the memory of the young swimmer and urging the sports community to comply with laws and regulations, and to fulfill responsibilities to ensure a safe sporting environment that protects players and their futures from neglect.
Punchline 1: In sports law, if you can't swim, at least your lawyers will give you a splash of laughter.
Punchline 2: The only thing deeper than this pool is the bureaucracy.
