Dispute Remains Unresolved Amid Conflicting Claims
The ongoing dispute between Zamalek SC and former player Ahmed Sayed Zizo continues to generate uncertainty, with no final ruling yet issued by the Egyptian Football Association.
The Players Affairs Committee has not delivered a definitive verdict on the mutual complaints lodged by both parties. This comes despite widespread reports suggesting that a decision may have been reached regarding claims that the player is owed 60 million Egyptian pounds in outstanding payments.
Amir Mortada Defends Club’s Legal Standing
Speaking publicly, Amir Mortada Mansour, the former general supervisor of football at Zamalek, insisted that the club’s legal position remains robust.
“I was the one who drafted Zizo’s contract with Zamalek when I was in charge of the football sector at the club, and I waited for the club officials to talk to me and consult me on the matter, but this did not happen.”
He also revealed that he had prior discussions with Amr El Ganainy when the player was close to completing a move to Al Ahly SC.
“Amr El Ganainy spoke to me asking about something when Zizo was close to joining Al Ahly, and when he officially moved to the rival club, I spoke to him and told him that I am a lawyer by profession, and that he should be careful about some points, and I explained them to him, and he confirmed to me that I was right.”
Contract Structure at the Centre of the Case
Mansour argued that the structure of the contract itself provides clarity over the dispute, particularly regarding how financial figures were documented.
“In short, there is an offer outside of Zizo’s contract that includes the real figures. There are net tax figures and figures with taxes, and they were put in place in case there is a tax dispute about the contract. This is to protect the club and the player, and I confirm that Zamalek’s position in the case is 100% correct.”
He also questioned the basis of claims that the player is owed the full contract value, stating:
“Zizo’s contract with Zamalek for the three and a half years is worth 60 million pounds, so how can he have outstanding dues worth the entire contract? But what I learned from Amr El-Ganayni and Ahmed Hossam Mido is that Zizo collected his dues according to the special conditions in the contract along with the value of the contract itself.”
‘3% Fee’ Proposed as Key Evidence
According to Mansour, the resolution of the dispute could hinge on a specific regulatory mechanism within the Egyptian Football Association.
“Any contract includes the contract duration, its value, and the timing of payments, in addition to special conditions related to bonuses or how the full value is distributed. I drafted Zizo’s contract according to specific and recognized terms, not according to my personal whims.”
He concluded by highlighting what he believes is the decisive factor:
“The solution to this issue lies with the Football Association itself. The Association receives 3% of the value of any player’s contract for one season as a fee for documenting his contract with the club. The Football Association should look at the amount it receives from documenting the player’s contract, and then it will know the true value of the contract between the two parties. As for whether the player receives his dues from Mamdouh Abbas, the current honorary president of the club, I do not know this detail”.
Awaiting Final Verdict
With the governing body yet to issue a final decision, the dispute remains unresolved. Both sides continue to stand by their positions, while the outcome could set an important precedent for contract interpretation in Egyptian football.
For now, attention remains fixed on the Football Association’s next move, which is expected to bring clarity to one of the most closely watched contractual disputes in the domestic game.
