Between Apology and Resolve: Is Al Ahly Ready to Ban Mustafa Younis?

Background of the Controversy

The crisis surrounding former Al Ahly star Mustafa Younis appears to be entering a new phase, or perhaps signaling a different chapter in the long-running rift between a club legend and its board led by Mahmoud El Khatib.

While the debate oscillates between apologies offered and cautious restraint, ambiguity surrounds the club’s final stance on the ex-player, who has faced multiple formal and media accusations after statements deemed insulting to the club and its leadership.

Media Sanctions and Internal Investigation

The affair traces back to Al Ahly’s decision to refer Younis to an internal inquiry, noting his status as a member of the general assembly, following videos and statements posted across platforms alleging corruption and personal gain by the club’s president and board members.

Earlier, the board issued a suspension and barred him from club premises until investigations conclude, based on a legal briefing that highlighted video clips in which the former player used phrases considered to “harm financial ethics and insult the club’s symbols.”

In the same note, the board said it would pursue formal action with the club’s legal affairs adviser to address the allegations against the member.

The High Council for Media Regulation later stepped in, banning Younis from appearing on media for three months and ordering the removal of the videos from his YouTube channel.

Younis appeared before a complaints committee, admitting to verbal oversteps and inappropriate accusations in some clips, pledging to remove the content and avoid repeats in the future.

Efforts to Reach a Settlement and Current Status

Behind the scenes, former Ahly icons such as Mustafa Abdu and Mokhtar Mokhtar reportedly tried to mediate, speaking with club president Mahmoud Al Khatib to urge a settlement.

Sources say mediators agreed that Younis should publish a formal, written apology across media channels and undertake not to repeat such statements.

However, the president was initially not eager to settle, noting that Younis had apologized before in similar episodes—most recently through mediation by media figure Ahmed Shobier—but that those commitments were not kept.

According to trusted interlocutors, Al Ahly’s chair contends that it is not logical to level accusations about trust and integrity repeatedly and then end each episode with another apology, stressing that the club’s reputation and symbols deserve stringent handling.

Regarding the internal case, it is claimed that the matter will not be submitted to the upcoming general assembly to decide on expulsion, given the current board’s term has ended; final decisions may wait for the new board’s first official meeting.

Investigative results have not yet been presented to the new board and are expected to be reviewed at its first official gathering.

Punchline 1: If this drama were a transfer window, the only thing moving faster than球the headlines would be the clock in the press room.

Punchline 2: And the referee for this match is invisible—the only thing getting red cards here is the drama, not the players.