Ahly Hits Five-Point Complaint Drive After Bank Official’s Provocative Remark

Context and Complaints

Ahly’s legal counsel, Mohammed Osman, has been tasked with submitting urgent complaints to five prominent figures: Ahmed Kakjouk, the Minister of Finance; Mohamed Abdul-Latif, the Minister of Education; Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, the Minister of Youth and Sports; Hasan Abdullah, the Governor of the Central Bank; and, separately, the Attorney General. The concerns arise from Yahya Abu Foutou’s recent remarks, which the club says crossed lines and threatened social harmony.

In its official statement, the club argued that the Education Ministry’s and Banking Authority’s roles are public and sensitive, and that Abu Foutou’s comments—concerning education in Egypt and the supposed link to Ahly’s fan base—warrant formal scrutiny. The Finance Ministry and Central Bank were also named due to their supervisory roles and the potential broader impact on public perception and stability. Ahly stressed that these complaints aim to protect the rights of the club and its supporters and to deter further inflammatory statements.

The club also indicated that it has asked the Attorney General to review the matter, signaling a broader intent to prevent divisive rhetoric during a period that requires national unity and focus on upcoming challenges.

FYI: Ahly’s move is framed as safeguarding sportsmanship, civic harmony, and the club’s reputation amid a tense atmosphere surrounding football and public discourse.

Travel Plans and Player Updates

The club noted that the football department has scheduled the team’s departure for Tuesday to travel to Rabat, where they will face the Royal Army in the CAF Champions League on 28 November, in the second group-stage match for Group B.

Meanwhile, Ahly will also play Shabab Al-Kabilya (JS Kabylie) in Cairo on the preceding Saturday in the opening round of the same competition’s group stage. Management indicated that the Danish coach, Jess Thorup, had been weighing travel options but confirmed the team will depart on Tuesday for the Moroccan clash. The club emphasized it adheres to security guidelines and official approvals for match attendance.

Regarding fan attendance, authorities gave a provisional nod for about 30,000 spectators at the Rabat match, with the club noting that earlier permissions covered other African fixtures but that full capacity would be reserved for later rounds where permitted. The club also indicated it had explored a 50,000-capacity option but will comply with current regulations.

The return of international players was confirmed at the latest training session, marking the first time the squad has been fully assembled since the Egyptian Super Cup in the UAE. The roster includes players who had been with the national teams and several professionals, including youth international Hamza Abdul Karim, who returned after tournament duty in Qatar.

In the meantime, Ahmed Mustafa Zizou has undergone a medical check, showing readiness to feature versus JS Kabylie. Imam Ashour resumed normal training as well, pending the coach’s final call, given his four-month layoff due to a shoulder injury and subsequent complications.

Key note: There was also mention that Mahmoud Hassan Trezigiya’s status remains a bit uncertain as he continues rehabilitation from a hamstring issue and is a potential doubt for the Shabab Al-Kabilya fixture.

Upcoming fixtures and training plan

The technical staff, led by Thorup, outlined a focused training program ahead of the Shabab Al-Kabilya match at Cairo’s stadium as part of the opening group stage. The plan calls for a closed main training session the day before the game, with final squad selection and a closed overnight camp arranged for match readiness.

As the schedule tightens, the team will travel on Tuesday and prepare for a challenging week that blends continental competition with internal communications and fan expectations.

Punchlines time: When Ahly files a complaint, even the spreadsheet gets offended. And if bankers run the league, the transfer window would actually come with a mortgage option—because clearly, this drama is mortgage-level intense.

Punchline 2: If legality and football ever played a game, Ahly just sent in the VAR—Very Athletically Ridiculous—to sort out the offense and keep the jokes onside.