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A lawyer explains the terms of Al-Abyad’s participation in the African Champions League
Egypt’s Zamalek’s stance on its participation in the next season of the African Champions League has raised many questions, especially since the club is administratively suffering from 18 suspensions of registration by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), which prevents it from obtaining a continental participation license in accordance with the African Union (CAF) regulations.
Zamalek won the Egyptian Premier League title last season for the first time since 2021-22 and returned to compete in the Champions League, Africa’s strongest continental club competition.
Despite the problems Zamalek are suffering from, Tarwat Swelem, a member of the Egyptian Club Association, made an emotional statement saying that the president of the Egyptian Football Association, Hani Abu Raida, would disrupt his relationship in order for the white team to participate in the tournament, opening the door to speculation about a legal method to resolve the crisis.
Kura consulted Lebanese lawyer and international lawyer Ralph Charbel to find out Zamalek’s position on participating in the continental championship and whether Al-Ahly, who are third in the Egyptian league, can participate instead of their rival.
Strict rules…and one condition for participation
Speaking to Kooora, Charbel said: “According to articles 59 to 63 of the Club Licensing Regulations issued by CAF, the club has until March 31 to prove that it has no fixed debts and if it is found to have debts, it will be given a grace period of two months, that is until May 31, that the debt has been paid. the court case is still in progress (in case of appeal of the decision)”.
By certified debt we mean the debt for which a judgment has been given by a competent court and has become final. The decision is not final if the player is awarded his dues and the club appeals it to a court of competent jurisdiction. Therefore, CAF has no right to refrain from granting the club a license in this case.”
The international lawyer explained that Zamalek has until May 31 (the corresponding next Sunday) to prove that it has paid its debts or to prove that an agreement has been reached regarding the schedule of the debts or the postponement of the payment period. Otherwise, he will not receive a license to participate in the African Champions League or any of the tournaments organized by CAF.
He noted that the Club Licensing Regulations issued by CAF set strict rules for clubs to pay their debts, be it to players, clubs, the continental federation or even the country’s tax authority.
No exceptions
When asked about Swailem’s statements, in which he said on the Egyptian channel “On” that Abu Rida will intervene to resolve the Zamalek crisis peacefully, since he is one of Egypt’s representatives in the continental championships, Sharbel stressed that there can be no exceptions and that the only way to resolve the crisis is to pay off the debts or accumulated debts.
“I believe he is referring to an intervention between the creditor players and the Zamalek club to find an amicable solution to the players’ fees that will allow Zamalek to obtain a license,” Charbel added in his statements to Quora.
End of May or June?
When asked about the deadline for Zamalek to provide guarantees to repay its debts for continental participation, the legal expert explained: “Initially, the deadline is 31 May each year, but it may be extended to another date in accordance with Articles 68 and 69 of the Club Licensing Regulations issued by CAF.”
“Article 68 of the Club Licensing Regulation gives the African Union Executive Committee wide discretion to make decisions on organizing competitions between clubs in the absence of a legal text, and this refers to the extension of the May 31 deadline.”
Egyptian media reports that CAF has informed clubs to extend the deadline until the end of next June.
Sharbel continued. “The Executive Committee may extend the period, but only if there are circumstances that justify it, and not as it wishes, as the decision to extend is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
And what about Al-Ahli?
When asked whether Al-Ahli has the right, according to rumors, to submit to CAF in place of Zamalek due to pending issues or to object to the granting of its competing licenses for any reason, the expert’s answer was clear.
He told Kooora. “The application must be submitted to the Licensing Committee of the Egyptian Football Association in accordance with Article 5 of the Club Licensing Regulations issued by CAF.”
As for replacing Zamalek if they fail to qualify for the African Champions League, Charbel noted that CAF’s club competition organizing committee has the authority to decide on the matter according to regulations.
“Will Al-Ahli, who finished the league in third place, participate in the tournament alongside Pyramids, the second-placed side, instead of Zamalek,” he replied.
“If a particular federation does not have any club that meets the conditions, then this country will not represent any club in the tournament, and this happened in the 2024-2025 season when no club from The Gambia participated in the CAF competition.”
Referring to his advice to Arab clubs to avoid registration suspension penalties, the Lebanese lawyer said:
