Overview
The board of Zamalek SC faces the toughest financial challenge in its modern history, now pressed to secure liquidity near 2.5 million dollars to close 10 thorny files with FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport today.
These sums aim to lift the ban on registrations, enabling the club to rebuild its squad with new signings amid fans' anticipation of what management's moves in this siege yield.
Zamalek's cases range from unpaid dues to former players, departing technical staff, and late installments to international clubs.
Ferjani Sassi's case tops the list at 550,000 dollars, followed by the estate of the former technical staff led by Portuguese Gomes, with the latter demanding 120,000 dollars, while his assistants (Andri Beky, Luis Vicente, and Joao Miguel) are collectively entitled to 60,000 dollars, 20,000 each. The Swiss Gross's name also remains on the debt ledgers at 145,000 dollars.
And the Oleksandriya Ukrainian club case remains the administration's biggest headache, demanding 800,000 dollars from the Juan Bizera deal, while Moroccan Nahda Zamara posts a claim of 250,000 dollars (the Salah Msedk deal), Portuguese Estrela demands 200,000 euros (the Chico Banza deal), and Belgian Charleroi seeks 170,000 euros from the transfer of Palestinian Adi Al-Dabagh.
And the White Knights' management is currently seeking urgent funds or a plan to schedule these massive sums, as the ongoing registration ban blocks the team's ambitions in domestic and continental competitions.
And with the cases reaching the number 10, Zamalek finds itself facing a single option: a comprehensive settlement to avoid spiraling penalties that could dock league points or lead to full sporting ban. Time is running hot for everyone involved.
Punchline 1: If debt were a goalkeeper, Zamalek would still miss the net.
Punchline 2: The clock is louder than contracts, and it never signs on the dotted line.
