Egypt’s Supreme Media Regulation Council resumed on Sunday its meetings regarding the recent alleged violations in sport and journalism talk shows against Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh.
The council said it will take proper measures to deal with the ‘violations’ that took place in stadiums and on television.
The crisis erupted last week after videos featured Al Ahly SC fans, during the African Champions League match against Horoya AC, repeating ‘offensive chants’ against Al-Sheikh and others.
Regarding the match, Al-Sheikh announced that he is considering withdrawing from investing in sports in Egypt. “[There are] strange attacks from all sides and there is an issue everyday. Why all this headache then?” he posted on Facebook.
Following his announcement, Pyramids TV confirmed Al-Sheikh’s withdrawal from investing in Egypt.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided on Saturday to sanction Al Ahly SC over ‘offensive behaviour’ from their fans during the match, and fined them $20,000.
As a result, the CAF said, “Al Ahly will play the next two (2) official A-Team Senior Matches behind closed doors, without spectators,” according to the CAF’s official statement posted on their Twitter account, a suspended sanction for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Separately, the CAF further banned the president of Zamalek SC, Mortada Mansour, from performing any kind of football-related activity (administrative, sports, or any other) for one year, and a fine of $40,000.
The decision came following comments made by Mansour against the CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, and General Secretary Amr Fahmy.
Earlier on Thursday, the council expressed its dismay over Al Ahly SC fans’ chants and recent ‘exchange of offences’ between Egyptians and Saudis, urging in a statement that the concerned parties of both countries to immediately deal with the situation in order to end the crisis.
Last May, Al-Sheikh, head of the General Sports Authority in Saudi Arabia, and chairperson of Egyptian Pyramids FC, announced his resignation from his position as Al Ahly’s honorary president.
Tensions sparked between Al-Sheikh and Al Ahly SC when the team’s negotiations with Argentinean manager Ramon Diaz failed, and he was appointed the new manager of Jeddah’s Al-Ittihad.