Al Ahly demand response over Hossam Hassan’s ‘unacceptable’ comments

Al Ahly have escalated their dispute with Egypt manager Hossam Hassan, accusing him of overstepping the boundaries of respect in comments about captain Mohamed El Shenawy and midfielder Emam Ashour.

The Egyptian club said it had deliberately avoided responding to Hassan’s recent remarks until after their match against Angola, citing the wider interest of the national team and Egyptian football.

However, Al Ahly said its silence should not be interpreted as acceptance, particularly in relation to comments about El Shenawy, who captains both the club and Egypt.

Hassan explained at a news conference that El Shenawy had not been selected for the current Egypt camp. He also said the goalkeeper had previously played for the national team despite being, in his words, “finished with his club”.

The manager added that he respected El Shenawy and retained the right to select his squad according to his own technical judgement.

In a statement, Al Ahly said it rejected any attempt to undermine the technical or moral standing of players who represent the club. It added that differences over footballing assessments or selection decisions could not justify crossing the limits of mutual respect.

The club said every player who wears its shirt represents part of its identity, meaning their reputation and status must be protected regardless of disagreements over their performances or inclusion in a squad.

Al Ahly also criticised Hassan’s comments about Ashour. The Egypt manager had said he selected the midfielder before the Africa Cup of Nations to “try him”, a description the club said was inconsistent with the proper way to deal with players representing national teams.

The club acknowledged that Hassan had the full right to choose whoever he considered suitable for his squad. But it said that authority did not extend to comments which, in Al Ahly’s view, breached the principle of respect between the different parts of Egyptian football.

The statement also addressed Hassan’s assessment of Egyptian clubs. Al Ahly objected to his suggestion that they did not play football, saying such remarks diminished the standing of the clubs and domestic competitions organised by the Egyptian Football Association and the Professional Clubs Association.

Al Ahly said it had already faced circumstances which forced it to compete in major tournaments, including the Club World Cup, without several of its international players. Despite that, the club had chosen not to respond immediately in the interests of the wider football community.

It concluded by expressing its dissatisfaction with Hassan’s statements and welcoming comments from the president of the Egyptian Football Association regarding El Shenawy’s value.

Al Ahly also said it was waiting for the Egyptian Football Association to respond to what it described as “ تجاوزات” – unacceptable overstepping – and stressed that technical differences about players should never become an attack on their standing or their clubs’ rights.