Zamalek on the Edge: A Board Member Pleads for Sisi as Finances Spiral

The Crisis at Zamalek Deepens

Hany Barzi, a board member of Zamalek, warned in television interviews about how serious the club situation is, urging President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to look at Zamalek and its soft power for Egypt, and to help resolve the crisis.

Barzi said board members do not quit the ship and are not considering resignation, but the situation is very tough and could force them to raise the white flag if pressure continues.

Board's Stance and Next Steps

He noted that the Development Committee and all Zamalek supporters stand with the board, and a meeting will be held on Tuesday to discuss the next steps; they still do not know the real reason behind the land withdrawal at October Gardens, despite having all approvals and letters proving each step was correct.

Barzi argued that major successful clubs rely on administrative stability and investment projects, such as opening multiple branches, something Zamalek has lacked due to governance instability in the past two decades.

Rethinking Revenue and Land Plans

He criticized the land withdrawal, saying the board had prepared a three-year plan for the football team and other sports, but the land withdrawal halted everything and caused a huge financial deficit, with some players considering contract termination; the board remains firm on owning the land.

He added that revenues from subscriptions, broadcast rights, and match tickets are not enough to cover costs; every step in the October project was correct and approved by the Urban Communities Authority.

"Lifebuoy or not, the ground economy is the lifeline, and without it the team sinks faster than a ball in the Nile."

Punchline 1: If budgets were footballs, Zamalek just kicked the most expensive one into the stands. Punchline 2: In football and politics, everyone talks about the field, but here it seems the field is the press conference room trying to stay afloat.