A financial dispute involving Zamalek SC and forward Ahmed Sayed Zizo has intensified after former club official Abdelwahed El-Sayed publicly dismissed claims that the player is owed outstanding payments.
The disagreement centres on a complaint reportedly filed to recover delayed dues, with Zizo’s father stating in recent television appearances that a ruling had already been made in the player’s favour by the Players’ Affairs Committee. However, he suggested that the decision has yet to be formally announced, describing it as being held back within the Egyptian Football Association.
Strong response from former Zamalek official
El-Sayed responded firmly to those claims during an interview on the programme El La’eeb broadcast on MBC Egypt, rejecting the assertion that Zizo is entitled to any financial compensation from the club.
He said: “Zizo does not have any financial dues from Zamalek, and receiving a pound would mean there is a problem within the club.”
His remarks reflect a broader stance from within Zamalek that the matter is not one of unpaid wages, but rather a contractual disagreement linked to taxation.
Tax dispute at the centre of disagreement
According to El-Sayed, the core issue relates to changes in tax rates applied to player contracts. He explained that the percentage had increased incrementally from 22% to 25%, and subsequently to 27.5% of the contract’s value.
This escalation, he argued, created uncertainty over which party — the club or the player — should absorb the additional financial burden.
He said: “The main crisis relates to the tax file, as the percentage increased from 22% to 25% and then to 27.5% of the contract value, which caused a dispute over who bears the increase, especially since contracts within Zamalek are written in a total system that includes taxes, with a clarification of the net amount that the player receives.”
El-Sayed further clarified that, under the terms of such agreements, contracts are structured to include taxes within the overall value, while also specifying the net income payable to the player.
Contract interpretation under scrutiny
The former football director maintained that Zamalek bears responsibility for covering any increases in tax rates under the agreed contractual framework. However, he insisted that this does not entitle the player to claim both the gross contract value and the net amount simultaneously.
He stated that the player “is not entitled to claim the total value of the contract in addition to the net amount at the same time,” highlighting what he sees as a misinterpretation of the agreement.
Uncertainty remains over final decision
Despite El-Sayed’s comments, questions remain over the status of the reported decision by the Players’ Affairs Committee and whether it will be formally disclosed. The suggestion that the ruling is pending within the Football Association has added further intrigue to the situation.
The dispute continues to attract attention within Egyptian football, particularly given the prominence of the player involved and the potential implications for contract structures across the league.
Awaiting clarity as tensions persist
As both sides maintain differing interpretations of the contractual terms, the final resolution may depend on official confirmation from the relevant authorities. Until then, the disagreement between Zamalek and Zizo appears set to continue, underscoring the complexities of financial agreements in professional football.
