Egypt pushes to keep politics out of soccer, sports

CAIRO — Amid the political tensions that have prevailed in Egypt following June 30, voices have risen from the country’s sports circles demanding that politics be kept away from the industry and stadiums are spared Egypt’s political conflict.

Egypt’s Football Association adopted strict penalties on Dec. 12, to be imposed during the upcoming sports season beginning later this month. These penalties stipulate that all players who raise political, religious, ethnic or gender-based slogans are to be barred from playing for five matches and fined 15,000 Egyptian pounds (about $2,175). These penalties have, for the first time in the history of Egyptian soccer, been included in the regulatory framework of Egyptian clubs and matches played by the Egyptian national team.

Previously, renowned Egyptian player Ahmed Abd el-Zaher had raised the four-fingered Rabia salute associated with the Muslim Brotherhood and symbolic of its protest in Rabia al-Adawiya Square against President Mohammed Morsi's ouster. His behavior was welcomed by supporters of the deposed president but was met with anger by spectators supporting Maj. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. As a result, penalties were levied against the player, who received a three-month ban from local matches as well as a one-year ban from any activities organized by the Egyptian Football Association. In addition, his club, Al-Ahly, decided to put his contract up for bid per January 2014.

“I did not intend to cause such a controversy when I made the Rabia sign,” Abd el-Zaher told Al-Monitor. "I was merely expressing my personal feelings. I understand the penalties that were imposed by the Football Association, and I'm now considering offers to join an international club. I would rather not accept offers from Qatari or Turkish clubs, to avoid any political typecasting.”