The board of Ahly, a highly popular football club in Egypt, is meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of a number of its players supporting Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy in the presidential election.
Sources within the club told Al-Masry Al-Youm Monday that the board is unhappy with attempts to involve the club in the election in violation of its earlier instructions.
Among those supporting Morsy are star player Mohamed Abu Treika, football director Hadi Khashaba and junior football team head Mohamed Amer.
“Nobody from the board told me not to support Morsy,” Amer said. “They respect our freedom.”
Abu Treika and Khashaba reportedly breached the board instructions on Thursday when they made a phone-in to a rally for Morsy in Alexandria.
Morsy campaign posters carry photos of public figures supporting his bid, including Abu Treika and Khashaba.
More players announced their support for other candidates, such as Amr Moussa, Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, Hamdeen Sabbahi, Ahmed Shafiq and Hesham al-Bastawisi.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
