Zamalek Debt Crisis Deepens as Fresh Registration Ban Strikes Over Sassi Saga

Zamalek is under unprecedented financial and legal pressure that threatens its sporting and administrative stability in the near term.

After receiving a fresh notice of a registration ban due to late payments to former Tunisian star Ferjani Sassi, the club's mounting debts are taking shape as a crisis that requires urgent intervention and significant funds.

Figures show Zamalek urgently needs about 5 to 6 million dollars to settle pressing cases.

Crucial claims and deadlines

The cases with final judgments or payments due pose the greatest immediate challenge for the club's management, as delays mean prolonging the registration ban and increasing penalties through interest.

In particular, the Sassi case stands at the forefront after the ban notice, obliging Zamalek to pay around 480 thousand dollars, with 5% annual interest accruing over time.

These disputes illustrate the consequences of missed deadlines and threaten the club's ability to register new players until the debts and interest are fully paid.

Coaches and other creditors

Attempts to settle the dispute with former coach Jose Gomes and his staff have failed, leaving Zamalek required to pay about 160 thousand dollars immediately. The episode underscores the need for more decisive handling of foreign coaches' contracts to avoid accumulating penalties.

A debt burden also looms from AIK Stockholm demanding one million dollars for the transfer of a player, plus other foreign players' dues; these arrears could invite FIFA proceedings if ignored.

Not only veterans, but also clubs that supplied players last summer face overdue payments; unresolved dues to these clubs could turn amicable settlements into legal battles, escalating the crisis and threatening fresh registration bans.

Impact on the squad

Beyond financial matters, the crisis casts a shadow over the team's on-field performance. Continued registration bans would deprive the White Eagles of bolstering the squad, hindering their ability to compete domestically and continentally.

The current administration must craft an emergency liquidity plan to cover urgent payments such as Sassi and Gomes, and negotiate phased settlements with clubs and players to avoid further registration bans.

As a backdrop, Zamalek lost the Egyptian Super Cup final to rivals Al Ahly, 0-2, at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Al Ahly’s Achraf Bencharki scored in the 44th minute and Marwan Attia added another; a late Seifeddine Jaziri goal for Zamalek was ruled offside by Turkish referee Kilil Omut.

Coach Ahmed Abdel-Raouf expressed regret after the loss, saying they would have loved to win and congratulated Al Ahly on the title. He noted that injuries to Mohamed Ismail and others during the match worsened the White Eagles’ difficulties, adding, “We are working in very tough conditions; the injuries have complicated things.”

Humor aside, in football as in life, if debts were goals, Zamalek would be champions of the lending league—yet here the only thing that’s really scoring is the bill. And yes, the transfer window probably needs a loan from the jokes department too.