Ismaily’s registration crisis gets a rescue plan: Ministry steps in for a comeback

Ismaily Registration Crisis: Ministry Moves to Restore Stability

Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, held a lengthy meeting on Monday with Major General Akram Galal, the governor of Ismailia, and the temporary committee for Ismaily, led by Dr. Tariq Rahmi, to review the club’s latest developments and plans for the coming period. The aim was to secure stability and bolster the club’s sports sections and administrative units.

Earlier, the Ministry had decided to suspend the Ismaily board chaired by Nasser Abu Al Hassan for financial and administrative violations and referred the issues to the judiciary for investigation. A temporary committee was appointed while financial and administrative breaches are reviewed.

During the session, the committee outlined the club’s financial and administrative status and mapped programs to reorganize operations, create a conducive environment for nurturing talent, and deliver positive results in local competitions.

The minister and the governor also discussed ongoing challenges and plans to develop infrastructure and improve services for members and supporters.

Sobhi reaffirmed the ministry’s full backing for Ismaily, one of Egypt’s most storied clubs, stressing that the current phase requires united effort to return the club to its normal course and achieve administrative and technical stability.

Galal stressed the governorate’s readiness to provide all forms of support and to monitor the implementation of plans and procedures in coordination with the ministry and the temporary committee to ensure stability and ongoing service to sport and the community.

Urgent Move

Conversely, the session covered urgent steps to resolve the registration ban ahead of the January transfer window, given the team’s aspiration to remain in the Egyptian Premier League and avoid relegation nightmares.

The temporary committee renewed confidence in the first-team coaching staff led by Algerian Miloud Hamdi and ruled out changes to the technical staff due to the club’s difficult circumstances.

Ismaily is navigating one of its toughest periods after FIFA halted registrations due to a backlog of payments to players and former coaches, leaving the club financially and administratively strained ahead of the new season.

The root causes include complaints from foreign players and coaches; the club was unable to meet deadlines due to long-standing financial pressures.

FIFA formally notified Ismaily to settle outstanding dues immediately and suspended registrations until these matters are resolved, a blow to the coaching staff planning to strengthen the squad for the upcoming season.

The current administration has raced against time since the suspensions, reaching out to creditors to negotiate settlements, and exploring investment opportunities while engaging with the Ministry and other authorities to secure formal support to lift the ban.

Fans remain deeply concerned about the accumulation of administrative and financial woes, which have dented the club’s standing and its rich history, fearing continued bans might further weaken the squad, especially with departures of key players and limited replacement options.

Positive Indicators

Sources close to the club say management is working around the clock to secure required funds, and there are encouraging signs of settlements in several cases that could gradually allow the ban to be lifted.

There are also reports of campaigns to rally fan support and donations from club members at home and abroad to help the team weather this sensitive period.

The football community in Egypt awaits the next steps, hoping the Ismaily administration can close the outstanding financial files and restore the right to register players, enabling a rebuild before the new season. Solving this crisis is not merely about stability; it’s essential to salvaging the club’s future and returning a team of such history to competing at a high level.

Humor break: If Ismaily finds a way through this, the club might finally sign a goalkeeper who actually catches up with payrolls—preferably one who never loses his balance, even when the bank statements do a header. And if not, well, at least the fans can claim they’ve mastered the art of cheering in three different currencies.