Ex-Zamalek club head Mortada Mansour sentenced over defaming Ahly chairman Mahmoud El-Khateeb, again

An Egyptian court sentenced this week to prison for three months ex-Al-Zamalek club's controversial president Mortada Mansour after he had been found guilty of publically defaming  Al-Ahly chairman Mahmoud El-Khateeb for the second time. 

Mansour was ordered to pay 10,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately US$320) to suspend the verdict so he can appeal it and 20,000 EGP as a fine, an Egyptian news outlet reported.

No further details were immediately available.

Mansour, an ex-judge, lawyer and former lawmaker, is known for his quick temper and vocal criticism of aspects of various aspects of Egyptian society and prominent public figures.

In February of this year, an Egyptian court upheld a one-month jail sentence and a one-year suspended sentence against Mansour over similar charges in a case that also involved public slander against Khateeb.

Even though the Ministry of Youth and Sports officially sacked Mansour from the chairmanship of Zamalek for being "found guilty in a misdemeanour and imprisoned accordingly", he kept running the club in an unofficial capacity after he got out of prison until an administrative court order was released against him earlier last month.

Unconfirmed news indicated that the club has been struggling financially over the past months.

A number of club members told The New Arab that the facilities at the premises were left unattended, while most of the workers there publically refrained from performing their regular duties because they have not been paid for several months.

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 that involves thousands of members.