Zamalek faces escalating crisis with Sallah Moussaddaq over delayed wages

Zamalek’s financial troubles have deepened as Moroccan player Sallah Moussaddaq edges closer to unilaterally terminating his contract because of unpaid wages.

According to Kooora sources close to Moussaddaq stated that, the player submitted an official complaint to FIFA and gave the club 15 days to respond or provide a solution, but received no reply from the management during that period.

The issue, sources say, is not just about late payments, but also about Moussaddaq feeling ignored and undervalued within the club. The situation was made worse when Zamalek rejected an offer from Moroccan club Wydad to sign Moussaddaq at the season’s start, yet continued to sideline him in matches, including two Confederation Cup games.

With the 15-day deadline expired, Moussaddaq now has the right to break his contract and become a free agent, paving the way to file a claim with FIFA for the remainder of his deal, estimated between $900,000 and $1 million. Zamalek’s board, already under pressure due to mounting debts and a recent FIFA-imposed transfer ban over multiple cases, faces the risk of losing Moussaddaq for nothing and incurring further fines if the issue isn’t resolved swiftly.

Moussaddaq joined Zamalek last winter from Morocco’s Nahdat Zemamra and has played 16 matches, though he’s struggled for consistent game time and has two and a half years left on his contract.