Zamalek president Hussein Labib explains football company plans and Al Ahly referee dispute

Zamalek president Hussein Labib has explained why the club delayed establishing a football company and defended its decision to object to the referee appointed for the derby against rivals Al Ahly.

Labib was speaking in a rare interview with broadcaster Ibrahim Abdel Gawad on On Sport after a long absence from the media, addressing questions raised by Zamalek supporters in recent months.

Why Zamalek delayed the football company

Labib said the proposal to create a football company was first presented at the end of last season, when former sporting director John Edward was at the club, but he did not believe the timing was right.

“At the end of last season, the idea of a football company was put to us while John Edward was the former sporting director, and that was not the right time,” Labib said.

“At that point, we had only one offer for the football company. I wanted to reach the best possible offers by assessing some of the football activities, and there was no reason to rush.”

Labib rejected suggestions that the proposal had come from Edward with the aim of taking control of Zamalek.

“What was said about the offer coming from John Edward, and that his objective was to control Zamalek, is incorrect,” he said. “The sporting director performed well, and that resulted in winning the Egyptian Premier League.”

Labib also described the title success as extraordinary, saying he was fortunate to have his name associated with it.

“It is fortunate for me that my name is linked to winning the Egyptian Premier League last season because it was miraculous,” he added. “Even the most optimistic people only wanted the team to qualify for African competitions.”

He insisted that Zamalek itself would not be sold. Instead, assets linked to its football operations could be transferred to the new company, including the first team, youth sector, academies, sponsorship and revenues.

“These assets will be moved from Zamalek to the football company, which will then market them,” Labib said. “This is necessary because of the financial deficit, and the ultimate aim is to win trophies.”

He said no commitments had yet been made to any investor, and no specific ownership percentage had been agreed.

“Our unequivocal preference is for Zamalek to hold the largest share in the football company,” he said. “No individual investor should own a larger percentage than Zamalek.”

Labib added that having more investors would benefit the club, with the intention of creating the company properly whether that happened during his tenure or after he left.

Objection to Al Ahly derby referee

Labib also explained why Zamalek objected to the referee for the derby against Al Ahly, despite previously supporting Egyptian officials before the current Egyptian Premier League season.

“Our first statement was intended to praise competent Egyptian referees, so they could be developed and improved. That is our national duty,” he said.

“But we felt we had been treated unfairly in some matches because different decisions were being made from one game to another. We asked for the same standard to be applied, without double standards.”

Asked whether Zamalek could request foreign referees in future, Labib replied: “Every situation will be dealt with in its own time. We do not know whether we will ask for foreign referees in the future, but if it is our right, we may use it when necessary.”