Egypt court upholds dismissal of Mortada Mansour from Zamalek club chairmanship

An Egyptian court has rejected on Sunday the appeal submitted by Mortada Mansour contesting his dismissal from the chairmanship of al-Zamalek football club.

The country’s Supreme Administrative Court upheld an earlier verdict which sacked Mansour from the club's chairmanship after he was found guilty of a misdemeanour and imprisoned earlier this year, local Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reported.

The ruling was final and cannot be appealed before a higher court.

In February of this year, an Egyptian court upheld a one-month jail sentence and a one-year suspended sentence against Mansour over the public defamation of Al-Ahly club president and ex-football legend Mahmoud El-Kahteeb.

Another court sentenced Mansour in May to prison for three months over the public slander of Khateeb for the second time.

Zamalek is Egypt's second most important club, just behind its long-time rival Ahly. Last year, the club won its 14th title since the premier league championship was launched in 1948. Only fierce local rival Ahly, with a record 42 titles, surpassed Zamalek.

Zamalek also competes in several other sports besides being a social club with thousands of members.

Until Sunday’s court ruling, Mansour challenged the government's decision and continued working as the head of the club in an unofficial capacity following his release from prison.

An ex-judge, a lawyer and a former lawmaker, Mansour is known for his hot temper and vocal criticism of aspects of Egyptian society and public figures.

Mansour is currently banned from running again for the club's chairmanship position as per the country's law.

Last month, Mansour declared he would establish a political party, named Al-Ikhlas (Arabic for 'Loyalty'), saying the future entity would "confront any infiltration attempts by the affiliates of the Muslim Brotherhood", designated an illegal group in Egypt since 2014.