Former Zamalek director El-Sayed launches attack on Zizo over dues row

Former Zamalek SC football director Abdelwahed El-Sayed has launched a strong response to claims surrounding Ahmed Sayed Zizo’s financial dispute with the club, firmly denying that the player is owed any outstanding payments.

The controversy intensified after Zizo’s father publicly revealed that a complaint had been filed over delayed dues, claiming that a ruling from the Egyptian FA’s Players’ Affairs Committee had already been issued in the player’s favour but was yet to be officially announced. He suggested the decision was effectively “in the drawer,” fueling speculation over a brewing legal battle.

But El-Sayed has dismissed those claims outright, insisting there is no financial liability on the part of Zamalek.

“Zizo does not have any financial dues with Zamalek,” El-Sayed said during a television appearance. “If he were to receive even a single pound now, it would indicate a problem within the club’s system.”

The former official went further to clarify that the dispute stems not from unpaid wages, but from complications related to taxation clauses within the player’s contract.

According to El-Sayed, the core issue revolves around a rise in tax percentages applied to player contracts in Egypt—reportedly increasing from 22% to 25%, and later to 27.5%. This shift, he explained, sparked disagreement over who should absorb the additional financial burden.

He noted that contracts at Zamalek are structured under a “total value” system, where the overall figure includes tax obligations while also specifying the player’s net earnings. This, he argued, means the player cannot claim both the gross contract value and the net amount simultaneously.

“El-Sayed explained that the club is responsible for covering the tax increases under the agreed terms,” the report added, “but that does not entitle the player to demand more than what was contractually defined.”

The escalating war of words has added another layer of tension to relations between Zizo’s camp and Zamalek, especially amid the player’s current association with Al Ahly SC.

With both sides standing firm, the situation now appears headed for further legal and administrative scrutiny, as questions remain over the final ruling and whether it will be formally enforced or challenged.