Zamalek appeals CAF fines at Court of Arbitration for Sport

Representatives of Zamalek Club appeared before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) this February to challenge hefty fines imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) related to the Confederation Cup final and African Super Cup, totalling over $500,000.

In its defense, Zamalek argued for the cancellation or significant reduction of the sanctions, citing precedents where other clubs involved in similar incidents faced far lighter penalties.

The hearings, conducted over two sessions, featured Zamalek’s legal team led by sports lawyer Dr Nasr El-Din Azzam, alongside CAF representatives, addressing two separate lawsuits filed by the club to overturn fines of $200,000 and $300,000, respectively.

Speaking to Kol El-Kora, Azzam explained that Zamalek highlighted inconsistencies in CAF’s disciplinary decisions.

He pointed to the 2019 African Champions League final, where Wydad Casablanca was fined just $20,000 after withdrawing from the match against Tunisia’s Esperance, despite Zamalek facing far steeper penalties for merely threatening to withdraw.

“Zamalek is seeking justice and the reduction of these fines, which amount to more than 24 million Egyptian pounds,” Azzam said.

“We have presented multiple comparable cases at the club level to demonstrate the imbalance in CAF’s rulings. While the case is complex, we remain confident in our ability to recover the funds unfairly deducted from the club’s dues.”

The CAS decision is expected to have significant financial implications for the club and could set a precedent for how CAF sanctions are applied in future continental competitions.