Mortada Mansour has launched a scathing attack on Shikabala after the Zamalek forward made a shushing gesture to him during the team's Egyptian Premier League win at Smouha on Friday. The controversial lawyer, who might become the new Zamalek president in the near future, was present in the stands as the Cairo giants beat promoted Smouha 3-1 in Alexandria. He appeared ecstatic after winning an appeal against the validity of the club's 2009 board elections on Wednesday. An Egyptian court ruling to disband the current board, which is headed by Mansour's bitter foe Mamdouh Abbas, paved the way for the outspoken man to run for Zamalek's presidential seat, a position he occupied for a brief and troubled spell in 2006. Reports suggest that Shikabala would leave Zamalek if Mansour became the new chairman, given his frosty relationship with the 58-year-old. He made his feelings clear when he was substituted against Smouha with 12 minutes remaining, making a silencing gesture to Mansour while on his way to the dugout. He also called on Zamalek fans to cheer businessman Abbas, who attended the game along with several board members.
Shikabala under fire "I have a message to (Egypt coach) Hassan Shehata: I don't think that you can include this rude player in the national team's squad after what he did today," Mansour said in a phone interview with Modern Sport. "Shikabala is an ignorant and decadent player. I used to give him 10 pounds to buy some sandwiches when I was president. "What you did for Zamalek during the past few years? You did nothing. Your credit is zero." Shikabala, whose talent is undoubted, is usually criticized for failing to live up to his potential due to some childish acts. He was involved in several disputes with Zamalek's board during the past few seasons and was on the verge of joining Belgian giants Anderlecht without the club's consent last month. The White Knights said they would punish him for his behavior in the league tie against promoted Smouha. "The Egyptian FA should sanction him. He is a misbehaving player," Mansour added.
