Zamalek back referees as club sets date for delayed player payments

Zamalek have rejected suggestions that refereeing mistakes are deliberate while confirming that part of their players’ outstanding wages from last season will be paid within days.

Maher Gharib, head of Zamalek’s media department, said the club supported the country’s refereeing system and its committee, led by Essam Abdel-Fattah.

“The referee is human and can make mistakes or get decisions right. Zamalek’s problem is that, historically, we have been harmed by refereeing errors, but we do not say they are deliberate,” Gharib told Modern.

He added: “Zamalek supports the decisions of the refereeing committee led by Essam Abdel-Fattah, and we have not accepted doubts being raised about the integrity of the refereeing system.”

Gharib also referred to a statement issued by the club before the start of the season, in which Zamalek opposed what it described as early threats against referees.

“We rejected the early threats against referees in the club’s statement before the start of the season, because this happened previously with Mohamed Adel and the courts ultimately cleared him,” he said.

He claimed that Zamalek’s rivals had benefited from refereeing mistakes, while stressing that the club believed those errors had not been intentional.

“The competitors have benefited from the referees’ unintentional mistakes so far,” Gharib said.

“Anyone who thinks Zamalek is watching the situation in silence is mistaken. Everything that is happening is being studied and documented because we will need it. Some issues will be repeated, and we hope the decision will be the same because the season is long.”

The club official then outlined Zamalek’s plans to settle the financial obligations owed to its footballers.

“Within days, part of the players’ outstanding payments for last season will be paid. After that, the players will have only 5% or 10% remaining to be paid,” he said.

“Two instalments have been paid to the players and another instalment is on the way. The board has taken some steps that will produce positive results in November or December, with the aim of creating financial sustainability.”

Gharib said Zamalek was also continuing work on its new branch in 6 October City. He indicated that an agreement with an organisation to market memberships was expected within a few days, which would provide the club with additional revenue.

“Work is progressing very well at Zamalek’s branch in New Assiut,” he added.

The club’s board is also considering how best to structure its football company, with the aim of providing a consistent source of financial support for both the first team and Zamalek as a whole.

“The board is looking for what best serves the club’s interests in the football company file. Its objective is financial sustainability on a regular basis for the football team and for the club itself,” Gharib said.

He denied reports that Zamalek’s players had given the club a deadline to pay their outstanding money.

“Zamalek’s players did not give the club a deadline to pay their dues, contrary to what was reported,” he said.

Gharib further stated that the club’s football-related debts had been reduced after settlements were completed as part of the process of obtaining the licence.

“Zamalek owes $2.4m in the remaining settlements related to players’ cases after obtaining the African licence,” he said.

“The club has three cases at Fifa involving Swedish club AIK, Moroccan side Ittihad Tanger and Ukrainian club Oleksandriya. The total amount owed is close to $1.7m.”