🔴 Ayman Fathy Addresses Questions Over Al Ahly Contracts
Ayman Fathy Hussein, chairman of Al Ahly Football Company, has insisted that all contracts signed by the club are valid and properly documented, rejecting claims that there are irregular contracts within the club.
Speaking to presenter Lamis El Hadidy on the “El Soura” program on Al-Nahar, Fathy said: “Al Ahly’s contracts are 100%, 200%, 1,000% valid, however you want to put it.”
The chairman stressed that the club’s contractual and financial transactions are recorded and documented according to the applicable procedures.
💰 Zizo Contract: Professional Agreement vs Commercial Rights
Fathy also addressed the debate surrounding Ahmed Mostafa Zizo’s contract, explaining that there is a distinction between the player’s professional contract and his separate commercial rights agreement.
He stressed that Al Ahly pays the taxes due on Zizo and said the player is subject to the highest tax bracket, which he identified as 27.5%.
Fathy said: “There is something called a commercial rights contract and something called a professional contract. I pay the highest tax bracket in Egypt for Zizo, 27.5%.”
📊 “Zizo Is the Player with the Highest Taxes Paid in Egypt”
The Al Ahly official explained that assessing the full financial value connected to Zizo requires looking at both the professional and commercial agreements.
He said: “If we put the full picture together and include Zizo’s professional contract, so that this story is settled and we never hear it again, Ahmed Mostafa Sayed Zizo is the player in Egypt on whom the highest taxes have been paid.”
Asked whether that meant Zizo has the highest-value contract in Egypt, Fathy clarified that he could not confirm that claim. Instead, he emphasized that his statement concerned the amount of taxes paid on the player.
He said: “No, I don’t know whether he is the highest-paid player in Egypt or not. He is the player on whom the highest taxes have been paid in Egypt.”
📢 Commercial Rights Are Also a Source of Revenue
Fathy explained that Al Ahly manages players’ commercial rights through different arrangements. In Zizo’s case, there was a direct agreement covering commercial rights, while other players may have existing commercial rights that are purchased by the club.
He also highlighted the marketing value generated by Zizo, saying: “When we signed him and maximized his commercial exploitation, Zizo’s presentation video surpassed 100 million views. That generates money.”
Fathy added that Zizo and other Al Ahly players, including Emam Ashour and Mohamed El Shenawy, have appeared in numerous advertising campaigns, highlighting the commercial value of the club’s prominent players.
🧐 Why Did Al Ahly Avoid a Direct Public Response?
Regarding the club’s decision not to engage directly with statements suggesting that some contracts were invalid, Fathy said Al Ahly generally avoids media disputes while acknowledging the need to clarify matters when the club itself is involved.
He said: “I know that was the most important statement made on Captain Hany Abou Rida’s program, but I don’t believe he meant that the other contracts were invalid.”
He added that the discussion nevertheless opened the door to explaining several issues related to the club’s contractual and financial management.
📋 Several Authorities Monitor the Football Company
Fathy also revealed the bodies involved in monitoring Al Ahly Football Company’s operations, explaining that the company has an external accounts auditor, while also being subject to oversight from the Central Auditing Organization, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Egyptian Football Association.
He said: “We have one of the biggest auditors in Egypt. The Central Auditing Organization monitors us, the Ministry of Youth and Sports grants the license, and recently the Football Association has requested the license and asked for the company’s financial statements, which were submitted.”
✅ “Every Pound Is Documented”
The Al Ahly Football Company chairman concluded by stressing that all financial transactions are officially recorded, with payments documented, entered into the company’s books and subjected to taxation.
He said: “We have every pound written down, paid, documented, recorded in the books and taxed.”
Fathy’s comments come amid recent discussion surrounding Al Ahly’s contracts, particularly Zizo’s agreement and the commercial rights connected to the club’s players.
📢 What do you think of Ayman Fathy’s clarification regarding Zizo’s contract and commercial rights at Al Ahly? Share your thoughts.
