Egyptian court orders Mortada Mansour dismissed from Zamalek SC presidency
The Administrative Judiciary Court of the State Council issued a ruling on Sunday obliging the Ministry of Youth and Sports to dismiss Mortada Mansour from the presidency of Zamalek SC after having been previously convicted on charges of defamation.
The court also declared that the presidency at Zamalek SC is now vacant and ordered the board to call for early elections to fill the position, according to Mohamed El-Anani, the plaintiffs’ defence lawyer.
Administrative court rulings are binding and cannot be challenged at the supreme administrative court.
Four lawsuits had been filed by members of Zamalek SC demanding that the sports ministry sack Mansour.
In late February, Egypt’s Court of Cassation upheld a one-month prison sentence and a one-year suspended prison sentence against Mansour for defaming Mahmoud Al-Khatib, the president of Zamalek’s bitter Cairo rivals Ahly.
The February ruling put an end to a months-long legal dispute between the presidents of the two Cairo giants.
Mortada Mansour, 70, who is a lawyer and former member of parliament, is no stranger to controversy owing to his remarks.
In 2018, he was banned by Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation from appearing for three months in all media outlets for offensive remarks against famous football officials and figures in the country.
