Zamalek move to enforce discipline as Mahmoud Bentayg training absence deepens contract dispute

Zamalek have escalated their response to the continued absence of Moroccan international Mahmoud Bentayg, with the club preparing firm disciplinary and legal steps as tensions rise over unpaid financial entitlements.

The White Knights’ management has grown increasingly frustrated byBentayg’s failure to report for training in recent weeks, a situation linked to an unresolved dispute over outstanding dues.

Rather than allowing the standoff to linger, the Cairo giants have opted to act decisively, underlining their intention to protect the club’s contractual and legal position.

According to Egyptian media reports, Zamalek’s football administration has resolved to apply the club’s internal disciplinary code to the defender, citing his repeated absence from training sessions without official authorization. The move signals a clear shift from informal mediation to formal enforcement.

Crucially, the club is also pushing back strongly against suggestions that Bentayg could terminate his contract unilaterally.

Zamalek officials maintain that the player remains legally bound to the club, rejecting claims attributed to his agent that non-payment of dues grants him the right to walk away.

In a further step, Zamalek have transferred the entire file concerning Bentayg to the club’s legal department. The objective is to assess all available options and initiate appropriate procedures, particularly given the player’s continued refusal to return to training despite assurances from the club regarding the validity of his contract.

The standoff has inevitably attracted external interest. Sources indicate that Bentayg has recently received informal approaches from Morocco’s Raja Casablanca and Egyptian side Pyramids FC, with both clubs monitoring his situation closely in the event of an official separation from Zamalek.

For now, however, any potential move remains on hold. The ongoing legal process has effectively frozen Bentayg’s immediate future, leaving the player in limbo as Zamalek seek to assert control over the situation.