The president of Zamalek, Mortada Mansour, has issued a warning to a group of fans who formed an “angry face” emoji during a recent match at the club’s stadium in protest against the team’s failure to advance to the knockout phase of the African Champions League.
The fans, who were dressed in black, spread themselves across a stand during the match and were visibly upset.
Mansour, a controversial figure in Egyptian football, stated that the fans who attended the match in black would not be allowed to attend again.
He emphasized that the club’s traditional colors are white with two red lines and that supporters are welcome to attend matches, but not in black.
Zamalek’s fan group, the Ultras White Knights, who are renowned for their passionate support, explained their “fury towards the team’s situation and board members who are not suitable to represent our great club” on social media. They described themselves as the team’s “sword and armour.”
In addition to their early exit from the African Champions League, the five-time African champions are also struggling to defend their domestic title, currently sitting fifth in the Egyptian Premier League, 11 points behind their rivals Al Ahly, who have two games in hand.
Last week, Zamalek sacked their Portuguese coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, for the second time in two months. Mansour announced that a replacement would be announced: “within days.”