Ahmad Ahmad, Chief of the Confederation African Football (CAF), has threatened to sanction Egyptian club Zamalek FC if they refuse to play the CAF Super Cup scheduled in February in Doha, over strained relations between Egypt and Qatar.
Zamalek, reigning champions of CAF Cup, in November said they would not take part in the tie to oppose them to Esperance Sportive de Tunis on February 14 in Doha.
The Cairo club labeled Qatar an enemy of Egypt. The tiny gas-rich country has been facing since June 2017 a sea/air/ground blockade from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. The quartet severed ties with Doha over the Gulf country’s alleged support for terrorism.
Qatar signed a three-year deal with CAF to play the Super Cup in Doha. The contract have been in effect since 2017.
Zamalek criticized the African football body for staging the match in the Qatari city.
Speaking at the CAF Awards ceremony Tuesday in Egypt, Ahmad said CAF has not yet received any official notice of pullout form the Egyptian team.
“Afterwards, if the club refuses to play the match, the regulation will be obviously applied,” Ahmed said.
Zamalek may face a three-year ban from all CAF matches and subject to a heavy fine in line with CAF sanctions laws.
