Zamalek women’s sponsor alleges board member threatened her amid payment dispute

Shahinaz El-Hamamy, the head of the company sponsoring Zamalek’s women’s team, says a club board member threatened to assault her during a dispute over unpaid financial obligations.

Zamalek’s sponsorship company is involved in a crisis with the club over what it says is a failure to meet the terms of their agreement.

Speaking to Modern, El-Hamamy said payments had been delayed after an investor working with her withdrew from the arrangement.

“There has been a delay in paying the dues, but that is because the investor with me withdrew after one of the officials at Zamalek contacted him and intimidated him about the deal,” she said.

“That investor therefore decided to withdraw, and I am trying to resolve the matter.”

El-Hamamy also claimed she was prevented from entering Zamalek’s club premises and from attending the team’s match against Al Ahly.

“I was prevented from entering Zamalek and from attending the match against Al Ahly. A board member told me: ‘If you go to the match, you will be beaten,’” she said.

She added that a Zamalek board member contacted her after the team’s match against Zed and instructed her not to visit the club or communicate with the team until the outstanding payments had been settled.

“There is indeed a debt of 2m Egyptian pounds, including a cheque that was due last August,” El-Hamamy said.

“I asked one of the Zamalek board members to give me until next Sunday to settle the overdue amounts.”

She said an agreement had since been reached to make an initial payment, questioning comments made by Zamalek vice-president Hisham Nasr.

“I do not know the reason for Hisham Nasr’s statements, even though I attended a meeting and it was agreed that 650,000 Egyptian pounds would be paid next Sunday, in addition to 500,000 Egyptian pounds that will be paid into the club’s treasury,” she said.

Zamalek have covered several of the women’s team’s financial commitments in recent months, including participation fees and the registration of players’ contracts.

The club has also paid for accommodation, the recruitment of overseas players, flights and the team’s administrative expenses.

The dispute follows Zamalek’s 6-0 defeat by Al Ahly in the second round of the women’s football league.

Zamalek have never beaten Al Ahly. Al Ahly have won four of the previous meetings, while one ended in a draw.

Zamalek are 14th in the 16-team league table without a point.