Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Ashraf Sobhi, has pledged to bring discipline to football finances while rallying support for the national team’s World Cup push.
Sobhi said the government will not tolerate practices that distort the game. “We will not allow players to be registered with contracts that are merely formal and spend large sums outside of them,” he warned.
The new Sports Law No. 171 of 2025 will introduce strict financial controls, ensuring clubs spend within their revenues. Sobhi explained that loopholes from Law No. 71 of 2017, which allowed symbolic contracts and hidden payments, will be closed. He added that executive decisions for the law will be announced soon after discussions with clubs and legal experts.
Clubs that finalize the legalization process before October 31, 2025, must hold new elections, while non-compliant boards will stay in place for one year until procedures are complete.
Sobhi also called on fans to back the Pharaohs against Ethiopia in Cairo, saying victory alongside a win over Burkina Faso would secure early qualification. He praised Mohamed Salah’s leadership, calling him among the world’s finest.
