Former Egyptian footballer Essam Marei has described Ismaily SC’s relegation to the second division as a “crime” against the club, arguing that responsibility is shared across all levels of the organisation for the decline witnessed in recent years.
Speaking in an interview, Marei cautioned that if Ismaily fail to secure an immediate return to the top flight next season, the club risks sliding further into obscurity, potentially following the path of historic sides such as Tersana SC and Mansoura SC.
He noted that the warning signs of the club’s struggles were visible from the start of the campaign, insisting the relegation battle was not unexpected but rather the outcome of long-standing administrative and technical shortcomings.
Marei concluded that even survival this season would not have solved Ismaily’s deeper problems, stressing that without urgent reforms, the club could continue on a downward trajectory in the years ahead.
Najib Koumya: Morocco defender joins HSM Khouribga on free transfer Sep 12, 2026
