Zamalek vow to enforce player sanctions without exception

Zamalek board member Hussein El Sayed says the club will impose its disciplinary regulations on any player who reports late to the team’s pre-season camp, insisting no outside pressure will influence the club’s decisions.

The Egyptian club are currently holding a training camp in the New Capital as they prepare for the new season, with El Sayed confirming that every player had been told in advance when they were expected to join.

“Zamalek’s interests will not be compromised,” El Sayed said in an official statement issued through the club’s media centre.

He added that the club’s regulations would be applied to late arrivals “without exception”, while stressing that Zamalek’s rights would be protected in all matters involving other parties.

El Sayed said the board was not allowing social media discussions to dictate its actions and insisted that the club’s status and reputation were more important than any external consideration.

“No one can impose pressure on Zamalek or twist its arm, whoever they may be,” he said.

The board member said Zamalek was carefully reviewing several important issues and that decisions were being taken calmly, with the club sometimes choosing not to comment publicly while it assessed the appropriate course of action.

He also dismissed reports concerning possible player departures and complaints submitted by other players as speculation and rumours, saying no official decisions had yet been taken on those matters.

El Sayed said the board was considering a range of factors before making any decision, with the aim of protecting the club’s standing while ensuring that its rights were not surrendered.

He ended his statement by reassuring Zamalek supporters that the outstanding issues would be resolved in the coming days. The board, he said, was not unable to deal with the current challenges but was addressing them through careful study and a measured approach.

Three players Abdallah El Said, Juan Bizerra and Chico Banza have not yet joined the training camp.

Zamalek recently confirmed that Moataz Gamal would continue as head coach after the departure of sporting director John Edward. The club have begun their preparations for the new campaign under Gamal’s leadership.

Zamalek are scheduled to begin their league campaign against Al Ittihad Al Sakandary. The source says that match will take place on 23 August, while the club’s published fixture list gives the date as Friday, 21 August, at Cairo International Stadium, with kick-off at 20:00.

The Egyptian Premier League is due to start on 21 August, with the first round of fixtures ending on 20 February.

Zamalek’s listed schedule is:

– Round one: Zamalek v Al Ittihad Al Sakandary Friday, 21 August, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round two: National Bank of Egypt v Zamalek Wednesday, 26 August, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round three: Zamalek v Petrojet Monday, 31 August, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round four: Zamalek v Abu Qir Fertilizers Tuesday, 8 September, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round five: Ghazl El Mahalla v Zamalek Wednesday, 16 September, El Mahalla Stadium, 20:00 – Round six: Zamalek v Al Ahly Sunday, 11 October, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round seven: Asyut Petroleum v Zamalek Tuesday, 20 October, Asyut Cement Stadium, 17:00 – Round eight: Zamalek v Arab Contractors Wednesday, 28 October, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round nine: El Gouna v Zamalek Monday, 23 November, Khaled Beshara Stadium, 17:00 – Round 10: Zamalek v Al Masry Wednesday, 9 December, Borg El Arab Stadium, 20:00 – Round 11: Smouha v Zamalek Monday, 14 December, Borg El Arab Stadium, 17:00 – Round 12: Zamalek v Tala’ea El Gaish Wednesday, 23 December, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round 13: Pyramids v Zamalek Monday, 28 December, Air Defence Stadium, 20:00 – Round 14: Zamalek v Wadi Degla Monday, 4 January, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round 15: ZED v Zamalek Wednesday, 27 January, Cairo International Stadium, 20:00 – Round 16: Zamalek v Modern Sunday, 31 January, Cairo International Stadium, 17:00 – Round 17: Ceramica Cleopatra v Zamalek Friday, 5 February, Suez Canal Authority Stadium, 20:00 – Round 18: Zamalek v ENPPI Thursday, 11 February, Cairo International Stadium, 21:30 – Round 19: El Kanah v Zamalek Thursday, 18 February, Suez Canal Authority Stadium, 21:30