When Ambitions Clash: Zizo, Zamalek, and the 40 Million Pound Mystery Looming Over Egyptian Football

Background and denial

Within Zamalek, officials firmly rejected rumors that a players’ affairs committee would meet on Thursday to review a case involving their former player, now at Al Ahly, Ahmed Mustafa “Zizo.” They insisted there is no truth to reports of a 40-million-pound sanction in Zamalek’s favor and emphasized that the upcoming session is not a verdict but a hearing to allow Zamalek’s lawyer to respond and review documents ahead of a broader discussion.

The club stressed that the next gathering, scheduled for Sunday, November 16, is to examine responses to the formal complaint rather than to issue a ruling on any transfer-related fine.

Rights, payments, and the contract

A Zamalek source said the club possesses documents showing Zizo received all due entitlements under his three-year contract, including the final season in which he reportedly missed 25 days of training. The source warned that rumors of a 40-million-pound penalty are baseless and urged media outlets to verify information with the Players’ Affairs Committee.

The same source added that the hearing could determine whether the club must provide additional proof of financial settlements or request time to present further evidence until the end of the last season’s contract.

Protocol, optics, and leadership

The letter sent to the President of the Egyptian Football Association focused on accountability at the highest levels rather than on legal arguments. The club argued that Zizo’s conduct during the trophy ceremony amounted to a deliberate insult to Zamalek and breached sportsmanship norms, calling for accountability within the sport’s governance.

The incident stemmed from Zizo’s apparent refusal to shake hands with the club’s vice president, a moment captured at the Super Cup triumph in the UAE. The club stressed that this act should be confronted within the framework of the federation’s discipline rules.

According to the source, the letter cited the federation president as a witness and noted that the aim was to resolve the matter quickly within the sport’s structure, rather than dragging unrelated statements into the case. The emphasis remained on the player’s conduct and the club’s right to defend its image and interests.

Al Ahly’s response and the transfer backdrop

Al Ahly, for its part, filed a formal complaint with the Egyptian Football Association on the grounds of “unethical” behavior by Zamalek fans toward Zizo during the final in the UAE. The statement highlighted insults and abusive language directed at the player and his family, witnessed by senior officials and government figures alike.

It’s worth noting that Zizo was one of Zamalek’s standout stars before moving to Al Ahly on a free transfer last summer when his contract with the White Knights expired. The switch remains a focal point for ongoing friction between the two powerhouses as both sides pursue their interests.

The club did not invoke the name of Khaled Mortaji in the letter, instead keeping the focus on Zizo and the alleged incident, a move described by insiders as an attempt to avoid predictable media framing while safeguarding the club’s primary arguments.

The protocol conversation and the road ahead

Earlier comments from Hisham Nasser asserted that international norms demand a clear protocol for award ceremonies and that deviations should be flagged. He argued that when breaches occur on the other side, action should be taken, and that the federation must respond decisively when necessary to protect the sport’s standards and the clubs’ rights.

The overall thrust is to advance the case to the disciplinary committee rather than wait for formal complaints to trickle through, with the club asserting that the “obvious” nature of the incident warrants a timely response. The federation’s handling, in turn, remains under scrutiny as the two giants continue to jockey for position.

In parallel, Al Ahly’s complaint has put a spotlight on fan conduct and its potential impact on international perception of Egyptian football as the case moves through the proper channels. Zizo’s transfer history—especially last summer’s move to the Red Devils on a free—serves as context for the ongoing rivalry between the two clubs, a rivalry that colors every development in this saga.

And yes, the drama goes on. If you’re keeping score at home, add another page to the never-ending manual of football soap operas—where the only thing more inflated than transfer rumors is a headline about a handshake that wasn’t. Also, if a 40-million-pound question ever required a calculator, it would probably demand a raise before finishing this season’s accounting. Now, take a breath, readers: the next hearing is Sunday, and the plot thickens faster than a bowl of stadium popcorn.