Ismaily settle two cases to save $138,000 as club works to lift FIFA transfer ban

Ismaily’s appointed committee has reached final settlements in disputes involving Hamdi Naguez and Mohamed Lamine Kone, saving the club $138,000 (£104,000) as it attempts to end a FIFA transfer ban that has been in place for more than four seasons.

The two cases involved claims totalling $703,000, but negotiations concluded with Ismaily agreeing to pay $565,000. The club said the saving was equivalent to almost seven million Egyptian pounds.

Ismaily said FIFA is currently processing the removal of the registration ban relating to the two cases.

The club was relegated to the Professional League after finishing bottom of the Premier League in the 2025-26 season. It will begin its new campaign against Masar on 21 August.

In a statement, Ismaily’s appointed committee said: “As part of the intensive and ongoing efforts to resolve all the cases that have resulted in the club being subject to a registration ban for more than four football seasons, the committee continues to work around the clock to close these files one by one, despite the difficulty and complexity of the situation and the obstacles placed by some parties with the aim of obstructing or delaying negotiations.

“In this context, the committee announces that it has successfully reached final settlements in the cases of the players Hamdi Naguez and Mohamed Lamine Kone.

“The total amount owed in the two cases was $703,000, and negotiations succeeded in bringing the two files to a final conclusion by paying only $565,000. This achieved a saving of $138,000 for the club, equivalent to approximately seven million Egyptian pounds.”

The committee said the settlements followed earlier work that had resolved several other significant files and disputes. It said those developments demonstrated that it was taking “successive and carefully considered steps” towards its wider objective of removing all the reasons for the registration ban and allowing Ismaily to regain sporting stability.

It also thanked the negotiating team, led by advisers Nasr Azzam and Hisham Issa, for their cooperation and continued efforts in resolving a number of cases.

The club identified the files involving Carmelo, Jean Morel, Hamdi Naguez, Mohamed Lamine Kone and Spanish coach Dario Piera among those addressed by the negotiating team.

However, the committee acknowledged that further work remains. It said other cases still required negotiations, resources and funding, while assuring supporters that it would continue trying to settle them one by one.

It described the situation as “a race against time” amid difficult circumstances and multiple challenges, but said its objective remained clear: “Ismaily first… and the club’s interests above every consideration.”

The committee added that attempts to obstruct or slow the process would not prevent it from continuing its work to protect the club’s rights and future. It also told supporters that their backing was “not a luxury… but an indispensable necessity”.

Ismaily began preparations for the new season several weeks ago and recently appointed Ashraf Khedr as head coach. Khedr replaced Khaled El Qamash, who had been appointed only 37 days earlier.

The club’s opening Professional League fixture against Masar is scheduled for 21 August.