Ahmed Belal banned from media appearances for three weeks after comments about Zamalek

Ahmed Belal, presenter of Al Ahly’s television programme Hena Al Ahly, has been banned from appearing on all media platforms for three weeks by Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation.

The decision follows comments Belal made about Zamalek during an episode broadcast on Al Ahly’s channel.

The council, chaired by Khaled Abdel Aziz, approved a recommendation from its Complaints Committee, led by council deputy Essam El-Amir, concerning the episode shown on 31 August and presented by Belal.

In a statement, the council said: “The Supreme Council for Media Regulation, chaired by Khaled Abdel Aziz, approved the recommendation of the Complaints Committee, chaired by Essam El-Amir, deputy head of the council, regarding the episode of the programme ‘Hena Al Ahly’ broadcast on Al Ahly channel on 31 August and presented by Ahmed Belal.”

It added: “The council decided to oblige all media outlets covered by the provisions of Press and Media Regulation Law No. 180 of 2018 to prevent Ahmed Belal from appearing for three weeks from the date of the decision. The decision also obliges Al Ahly channel to pay a financial penalty of 50,000 Egyptian pounds for violating the codes and standards.”

The council said its ruling was based on a report from the general monitoring department of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, as well as proceedings from a hearing held by the Complaints Committee in the presence of Al Ahly channel’s legal representative.

Al Ahly channel recently brought Belal in to present Hena Al Ahly.

Belal moved into sports analysis and broadcasting after retiring from football in 2014. He had been one of the leading players in Al Ahly’s youth system and led Egypt at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

He later continued his career with Al Ahly’s first team and the Egypt national team, before playing for Smouha, ENPPI, Konyaspor and Ankaragucu in the Turkish league.