Zamalek did not expect disciplinary registration ban over Maali case, says former legal adviser

Former Zamalek football legal adviser Mohamed Metwally says the club had no expectation that it would receive a disciplinary registration ban in connection with its dispute with Abdelhamid Maali.

Metwally explained why Zamalek had requested an English translation of a letter from FIFA concerning the case, saying the club’s contract with the player specified English rather than French as the language for any legal dispute.

“Zamalek’s contract with Abdelhamid Maali stated that, if any legal dispute arose, it would be conducted in English and not French,” Metwally told Modern Sport. “That was my legal right and it did not affect the progress of the case or Zamalek’s position.”

He said he was unsure whether discussing further details of the case could affect the club’s position because the dispute had not yet been resolved.

“I do not know whether going into more detail about the Maali case would affect the club’s position, especially as it remains under dispute,” he added.

Metwally also said the club’s defence had addressed all of its requests.

“All our requests in the defence memorandum against Maali were heard,” he said.

He rejected responsibility for paying Zamalek’s legal bills, saying his role had been limited to legal advice.

“I am not responsible for paying the costs of cases for Zamalek,” Metwally said. “My role is only to provide legal consultations. The financial crisis is what led to this large number of international cases.”

He maintained that the club had followed the appropriate legal procedures before the current problems developed.

“We took all the correct and legally appropriate steps before causing the current crises,” he said.

Metwally also challenged interpretations of the regulations surrounding the disciplinary registration ban, saying there was no specified number of players whose contract terminations would trigger such a punishment.

“The regulations did not state that a disciplinary registration ban is linked to the termination of one or two players’ contracts,” he said. “There is no clause specifying a particular number of players, as some people have claimed by referring to four players. We did not expect a disciplinary registration ban to be imposed at all.”

He added: “I have not been formally summoned for an investigation.”

A Zamalek source previously told FilGoal.com that the club had appealed against the ruling awarding Maali $611,000.

“We submitted an appeal against the ruling on 30 July,” the source said. “The Court of Arbitration for Sport is currently examining Zamalek’s appeal, after the appeal procedures were completed and the required fees were paid. An arbitrator will be appointed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the other party, Abdelhamid Maali, was notified.”

The source said reports recently published in the media concerned the events and chronology of the case since Maali terminated his contract earlier in the year.

“Zamalek’s current board is dealing with this case, along with all other cases, within the proper and recognised legal frameworks, in a way that protects the club’s rights,” the source added.

Maali joined Zamalek at the start of the 2025-26 season but terminated his contract unilaterally after delays in receiving his payments. He made nine appearances for Zamalek without scoring or providing an assist before joining Moroccan club Ittihad Tanger.