Nothing personal

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Mansour and the fake cup

THE AHLI handball team have won the cup by default because of the antics of Zamalek's president.

Ahli was leading 13-12 in the final of the cup 12 minutes into the second half when Zamalek president Mortada Mansour appeared in the main tribune, ignoring a decision taken by the federation to ban him from attending any of his team's matches indefinitely. The ban came into effect after Mansour verbally assaulted Egyptian Handball Federation (EHF) officials and its president Hassan Mustafa during the final match of the league season played last month.

Though Zamalek won the match Mansour's outburst caused the federation to scratch the league winner; no winner will be declared. It also banned Mansour from attending either the semi-final or final of his club in the cup. Mansour did not heed the order and suddenly appeared in the stands in the second half of the cup final against Ahli. On seeing him, the referees stopped play, asked Mansour to leave the stadium. He refused and instead came out onto the court carrying a cup that he borrowed from Zamalek. He then proceeded to wave the trophy to Zamalek suppporters and had photographers take group pictures of him and the team.

Mansour, a famed lawyer and counselor who was elected president of the club last month, threatened to open fire on the EHF but Mustafa said there was nothing personal. "The EHF has nothing against Zamalek or any other club which is a member of the federation. We don't want club officials or Zamalek supporters to misunderstand the EHF. We are a federation that respects its rules and regulations. We are against violence in the stands. The decisions we have taken against Zamalek are not personal, but for the sake of the game."