Fifa imposes new three-window transfer ban case on Zamalek despite CAF licence progress

Fifa has opened a new case against Zamalek that carries a transfer registration ban for three windows, on the same day the Egyptian club announced it had cleared all issues affecting its CAF licensing for next season’s CAF Champions League.

The world governing body confirmed on Friday, 24 July 2026, that a fresh case had been registered against Zamalek, resulting in a sanction preventing the club from registering new players for three transfer periods.

Fifa did not release any further information about the nature of the dispute or the party involved, and no financial details or case background were made public.

CAF licence secured despite Fifa disputes

Earlier on Friday, Zamalek stated via its official “Zamalkawy” application that it had settled all Fifa cases relevant to the club’s African club licensing status, clearing the way for participation in next season’s CAF Champions League.

The African club licence is tied only to cases in which final decisions had been issued up to 31 March 2026. According to Zamalek, those matters have now been resolved in full.

The deadline for clubs to meet all criteria and confirm eligibility for the African licence was set for 25 July 2026, meaning Zamalek moved to close its outstanding files just before the cut-off point.

Club still faces disciplinary registration ban case

Despite resolving the cases affecting its licensing, Zamalek still has one remaining Fifa-related issue: a disciplinary transfer ban case involving Moroccan player Salah Eddine Mosaadek.

This case concerns a registration suspension imposed as a disciplinary measure and, crucially for Zamalek, does not impact the club’s ability to obtain the African licence or to enter the CAF Champions League.

The newly announced three-window transfer ban case, revealed by Fifa on Friday, is separate from the existing disciplinary case involving Salah Eddine Mosaadek. However, Fifa has not clarified whether the new sanction is already active, subject to appeal, or conditional on any further legal steps.

Return to CAF Champions League

Zamalek will take part in the CAF Champions League as champions of the Egyptian Premier League, having secured the domestic title to qualify for Africa’s premier club competition.

The Cairo club is returning to the Champions League after a three-year absence. During that period away from the continent’s top-tier competition, Zamalek competed in the CAF Confederation Cup, winning the trophy in 2024 before finishing as runners-up in the 2026 final.

Their return to the Champions League comes at a time of complex legal and disciplinary challenges at international level, with Fifa’s latest action potentially shaping the club’s transfer strategy across several upcoming windows.

While the club has given assurances that all issues affecting its African licence have been closed, the lack of clarity over the details of Fifa’s new case and the three-window transfer ban leaves significant uncertainty surrounding Zamalek’s ability to reinforce their squad as they prepare to rejoin the continent’s elite.