The Zamalek Club is in hot water once more after being dropped from the Egyptian Handball Federation. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab reports on yet another mess In less than a month, the venerable Zamalek club find themselves in crisis yet again. This time, the Egyptian Handball Federation (EHF) has suspended the sport in Zamalek and cancelled the club's membership. If the EHF has its way, Zamalek handball players will be playing in other clubs to be distributed by the federation. The EHF conditioned the return of Zamalek to the federation to a change in the presidency of the club. However, Minister of Youth Mamdouh El-Biltagui, who has the final say, suspended the EHF's decision and will announce his own decision in a month's time. He hopes to reach an agreement between the two sides. The problem dates to when Zamalek's handball team was denied the 2005 league title just a day after they had beaten their dreaded arch rivals Ahli 26-23 in the final. The EHF annulled the result of the match after a verbal attack was launched by Zamalek's president Mortada Mansour against the federation and its president Hassan Mustafa during the match. Though Zamalek won the match, Mansour's outburst caused the federation to end the season without a winner being declared and to suspend Mansour. Mansour then added fuel to the fire when he appeared in the final of the cup between Zamalek and Ahli. Mansour suddenly appeared in the stands in the second half. Ahli were leading 13-12 with 18 minutes left in the match when Mansour showed up. On seeing him, the referees stopped play and asked Mansour to leave the stadium. He refused and instead came out onto the court carrying a simulation cup. He then proceeded to wave the trophy to Zamalek supporters and had photographers take group pictures of him and the team. His appearance forced Zamalek to forfeit the game; the cup went to Ahli. In the aftermath, Mansour took the cup matter to court and surprisingly won the case. The final, the verdict read, will be repeated. Thus, it appears that the EHF's decision was a matter of tit-for-tat. "If there is an announcement that the club is committed to the rules or that the roots of the problem have been treated, namely, a change in the leadership of the club, then everything will return as is," Hassan Mustafa, president of the EHF, said. "We want what's good for the game," Mustafa added. "I'm really sorry to take such a step. Zamalek is not one person. It's a great club with an outstanding history in handball. It's a symbol. But what happened needs to be stopped so that there can be mutual respect. "Unfortunately there will be victims in any decision. We could have solved our problems differently but it was the beginning of the problems under his [Mansour] leadership." Mansour has refused to give in to the EHF's decision. "They committed a crime against the club and the sport and it's totally against the rules." Mansour said he would defy the EHF's decision and that he was ready to fight it in court unless the federation had a change of heart. He also announced he would attend the club's matches despite the decision and was quoted as saying no one would dare prevent him "else the club will withdraw from the cup." Mustafa, who also heads the International Handball Federation, stressed there was nothing personal. "The EHF has nothing against Zamalek or any other club which is a member of the federation. We don't want club officials or Zamalek supporters to misunderstand the EHF. We are a federation that respects its rules and regulations. The decisions we have taken against Zamalek are not personal, but for the sake of the game." "It's unbelievable to kill the game in the biggest club in Egypt and strangle the competition, which will only end up destroying a national team," said El-Biltagui. "Hassan Mustafa said he respected the court's verdict by repeating the final cup match. Then he dropped the sport from the club. The thinking is unacceptable." Mansour, who was elected president of Zamalek, one of Egypt's powerhouse clubs, three months ago, was involved in last month's violent incidents in Zamalek when the club's security staff allegedly beat the club's vice president Ismail Selim who is at odds with Mansour. The incident, which seriously damaged the club's 90- year-old reputation, is currently in the courts.
