The vice chairman of Zamalek SC, Hisham Nasr, has moved to address growing concerns surrounding the club’s internal situation, including the ongoing case involving defender Salah El-Din Mossadak and wider financial and administrative challenges.
Nasr confirmed that he personally requested media appearances in order to communicate directly with supporters of the Cairo-based club and clarify several sensitive issues currently facing the organisation.
Speaking in remarks to Modern TV (MTI), he also expressed surprise at sections of public reaction following the club’s recent success, suggesting that expectations and perceptions around the team’s performance had become increasingly divided.
He said: “There are people who feel distressed and very sad even now because we won the league title. Stand in front of the fact that we outperformed competitors who possess all the capabilities, and what we achieved should be praised despite the problems that are not absent from any place. We acknowledge the existence of mistakes, but we are trying hard to fix them.”
The comments come amid uncertainty regarding a potential suspension of player registration linked to the dispute involving Moroccan defender Salah El-Din Mossadak. However, Nasr sought to reassure supporters that the situation remains unresolved and has not yet reached an official disciplinary conclusion.
Nasr also emphasised that discussions are ongoing to resolve the matter amicably, while stressing the player’s standing within the club.
He said: “We are working hard to resolve the crisis of our son Salah Musaddaq, and I say our son because he is a player with high morals, and I have previously sat with him, and the matter is on its way to being resolved, God willing.”
He further added: “We have not received any final decision to suspend registration for two periods, and we are working towards settling the dispute and ending the crisis amicably with the player.”
The vice chairman also defended the club’s official digital platform, the Zamalekawy application, stating that it had not published misleading information when it denied reports of a disciplinary sanction. He clarified that any potential suspension would only come into effect if negotiations with Mossadak ultimately fail.
Nasr also highlighted the financial difficulties currently facing the club’s administration, including the issue of land withdrawal, which he claimed has had a significant impact on the club’s finances and operational capacity.
He said: “If it weren’t for the decision to withdraw the land, the club’s treasury would now have 800 million pounds, and we would not have fallen into the trap of suspending registration, and we would have been able to conclude deals and meet all of John Edward’s demands.”
Despite these challenges, Nasr stressed that the current leadership has previously succeeded in overcoming administrative restrictions, noting that the club had managed to lift a transfer ban on four separate occasions.
He also stated that Zamalek currently require around $6.5 million in order to fully resolve their ongoing registration-related difficulties.
Looking ahead, Nasr attempted to reassure supporters about the club’s sporting stability, insisting that the squad remains strong even in the face of potential restrictions on new signings.
He said: “Even if the disciplinary penalty is applied and we are deprived of signings, we have a strong squad that succeeded in winning the Egyptian League title and reached the final of the African Confederation Cup before losing it honorably on the eighth penalty kick, which is an achievement to the credit of the team.”
He added that the club has also promoted seven players from its youth system, emphasising their importance to future plans.
He said: “In addition to this squad, we promoted 7 players from the youth sector. They are sons of the club, from our own blood, and we did not sign them from abroad. They proved their worth and were up to the task, and we will continue our journey and rely on them.”
The remarks come at a time when Zamalek are attempting to balance sporting ambition with financial restructuring, while also managing ongoing administrative and legal uncertainties.
