Since the 25 January 2011 revolution, people have seen a new face of some of their beloved footballers, either still giving it all on the pitch or retired. Nader Al-Sayed, the former international goalkeeper who was once carried on the shoulders for bringing an African Cup of Nations, was carried again but this time to chant in Tahrir Square against a repressive regime. Al-Sayed has been very politically active from that time on. His popularity which he gained during his football career was boosted by his revolutionary actions making him become one of the faces of the 25 January Revolution. Al-Sayed put his revolutionary actions into a political party, being on the Al- Wasat Party list of candidates for the 2011 parliamentary elections. His political ambitions though fell short to a dominant Muslim Brotherhood Liberty and Justice Party. Still, the goalkeeper who represented both Ahli and Zamalek kept giving his opinion on the political scene. Lately, he has been accused by some of being supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood, the group that was overthrown by a new revolutionary wave in June this year. Al-Sayed has denied the accusation on his Facebook account, saying, “I belong neither to the Brotherhood nor to any other political party.” He added, “What moves me is my country's interests and I'll always say that. I'm against a corrupt regime and I'm with justice not with individuals.” Al-Sayed also has criticised the latest formation of the Constitutional Amendment Committee for having no representatives from athletes. During an interview on Al Arabiya Al Hadath TV channel, the former TV presenter also criticised the support of some footballers to the Brotherhood. “There is a big question mark on players who supported the Brotherhood the likes of referee Hamdi Shaaban and retired Enppi player Samir Sabri. It is simply unacceptable,” Al-Sayed said. Indeed Sabri's support for the Brotherhood has gone further than anyone from those who watched him play with the red national team shirt before his retirement would have thought. The former Egypt international had joined the Brotherhood protests at Rabaa Al-Adaweya and took part in a football match held between the two Brotherhood sit- ins Rabaa and Al-Nahda before both were forcibly dispersed last month. The former midfielder stunned the public with this comment, “I was happier in this match than I was playing for the national team.” Sabri was banned from travelling to Turkey after the sit-in was disengaged by security orders. Another player who many people believe is on the Brotherhood side is the most popular superstar in Egypt today, Mohamed Abu Treika. The “prince of hearts” has supported deposed president Mohamed Morsi and rumours claim Treika fell into a depression after the removal of Morsi. Treika's political views were to affect his enormous popularity, according to Al-Sayed. “Treika's entry in the political scene may have an impact on his popularity in the upcoming period due to the current tense situation which increases the tension between those who have different political views,” Al-Sayed said. Ahmed Hassan, former national team captain and current player of Zamalek, defended Treika. “There is a difference between belonging to a political party or movement and questioning your nationalism,” Hassan said in a TV interview. “We cannot accuse him (Treika) of not being patriotic or of not doing anything for the country,” he added. Treika recently announced his “retirement” from politics. Hassan, on the other hand, had his own political views as well. His reflection on the disengagement of the Rabaa's sit-in, in which at least 600 were killed, came in the form of a message that he sent while in South Africa with his team to play against Orlando Pirates: “I do not know a single reason for the bloodshed happening now in Egypt from both conflicting parties, especially that all what is happening is for power and positions. The unity of Egyptian blood is in danger of disintegration in case these events continue… Those who seek power and prestige are free to determine their goals and plans but must achieve their objectives legitimately away from bloodshed and attacks on the vital installations of the country.” The midfielder who played in Turkey for several years and was on one of the biggest Turkish teams, Beşiktaş, has also criticised Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his scathing attacks on Egypt after Morsi was ousted. “I don't care who rules the country as much as I care about our national duty to support him to restore Egypt's leading role in the region,” Hassan said. The fans reflections on these players' attitudes have varied as well as their political views. Mohamed Sobhi, a student, has expressed his respect for Al-Sayed, Treika, and Hassan “but I have no respect for Sabri at all”. The same opinion was given by employee Ahmed Sameeh who gave the same reason Sobhi gave for not respecting Sabri. “If he thinks that playing with his Brotherhood is more valuable to him than playing for Egypt then he doesn't respect the country and so he doesn't deserve our respect,” Sameeh explained. Treika according to Sameeh, only expressed his political view “which is part of his own personal freedom and did not think less of his country”. Accountant, Aiman Mohamed, on the other hand, told Al-Ahram Weekly that his love for Treika has vanished. “I can't believe he supports a group of terrorists,” Mohamed said. The young accountant considered Treika a legend before he supported the Brotherhood. “When he supported Morsi during the elections I was, like okay, and anyway I was part of the “lemon” group (the people who elected Morsi so that the opposing candidate Ahmed Shafik would not win. The lemon is to make the choice less bitter).But now as we hear he still supports them despite what they are doing so I can't stand him anymore,” Mohamed added. Maha Ali who, unlike many girls, watches football frequently said that Sabri has no popularity to lose. “He was a player in a company's club and when he wore the national team shirt he was usually a substitute. He wasn't an amazing player after all,” Ali told the Weekly. Still, she expressed her “disgust” of his remark. “What do people call those who prefer the interest of some group over their country? I wouldn't say the word but people know it,” she added. Being asked about the other three footballers, Ali said she admired Hassan and the role Al-Sayed had played in the revolution and after. “Treika though has risked his popularity and the love people have for him by expressing his political views,” Ali said. “I think he is still very popular although some people don't like him anymore. He did the right thing to save his popularity by quitting political talking.”
