Zamalek have been ordered to pay Moroccan player Abdelhamid Maali $611,680 after FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled in the former Ittihad Tanger player’s favour in a dispute over unpaid dues.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee published details of its decision in the case involving Maali and his former Egyptian club, confirming the amount awarded to the player after he had claimed approximately $920,000 in compensation relating to his contract.
Winwin had reported exclusively at the beginning of August that Maali had won his dispute with Zamalek and was expected to receive between $600,000 and $650,000.
Maali had sought payment of the full salary included in the five-year contract he signed with Zamalek. However, the fifth year of the agreement was an optional season, with the player’s salary for that campaign estimated at about $260,000. That season was subject to specific conditions and required agreement between the two parties before it could be activated.
The FIFA proceedings also included a request from Zamalek concerning documents submitted by its legal team. The Egyptian club asked for the documents, which had been provided in French, to be translated into English.
That request was rejected by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee and did not alter the outcome of the case.
According to the report, the request did not affect the proceedings or the final ruling, while Zamalek ultimately did not submit its defence with the required papers and documents. As a result, the decision was based on the material presented by Maali.
The failure to submit a defence has also been described as part of a wider series of cases involving Zamalek in which rulings were issued without the club presenting legal defences.
Following the FIFA decision, Zamalek officials said the club had appealed against the ruling before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, the club had not yet paid the appeal fee, which is estimated at around £60,000.
According to informed sources, further developments in the case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport are expected before the end of the month.
Maali’s dispute with Zamalek comes after a short spell with the Egyptian club. He joined Zamalek last summer from Ittihad Tanger and made nine appearances across different competitions.
The Moroccan played a total of 260 minutes for Zamalek before returning to Ittihad Tanger.
Since returning to his former club, Maali has continued to perform for Ittihad Tanger and was recently called up to the Morocco Under-23 national team camp.
The FIFA ruling currently leaves Zamalek facing a payment of $611,680 to Maali, while the club’s appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport could lead to further developments in the case before the end of the month.
