So brief

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Zamalek captain Ahmed Ramadan shows off the league trophy in what would become a short-lived celebration

ZAMALEK's handball team celebrated the league championship for the 2004/ 2005 season but 24 hours later were celebrating no more.

The club was denied the title just a day after they had beaten their dreaded arch rivals Ahli 26-23 in the final. The Egyptian Handball Federation annulled the result of the match after a verbal attack was launched by Zamalek's president Mortada Mansour against the federation and its president Hassan Mustafa during the match. Mansour was suspended by the federation and banned from attending the semi-final and final (should they get there) of the cup.

It would have been Zamalek's first league title in three years.

Mansour, who was elected president of one of Egypt's powerhouse clubs two months ago, is a controversial figure whose latest dispute has been with the Egyptian Football Association after threatening to withdraw from the Cup competition.

In reaction to the handball suspension, Mansour said he would defy the ban and that he was ready to fight it in court unless the federation had a change of heart. He also announced he would attend the club's matches despite the decision and was quoted as saying no one would dare prevent him else the club will withdraw from the cup.