Sports commentator Hafid Drajai has revealed a surprising development regarding the friendly international match scheduled for October 16th in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, between the Egyptian national team and another team. He confirmed that the match is at risk of being canceled as it has not yet been subjected to a formal agreement that safeguards the rights of both parties.
In an article published on the “Algeria Now” website, Drajai explained that the decision to organize the friendly match against Egypt was initially made informally over the phone. However, Walid Sadi, a spokesperson, later retracted the decision and threatened to cancel the match if the Algerian Football Federation did not agree to the conditions set by the Egyptian Football Association. These conditions include ensuring revenue of no less than $200,000 for Egypt and granting the state television the right to broadcast the match.
Drajai also pointed out that no agreement has been reached on other details and specifics related to ticket sales, television broadcasting rights, and advertising associated with the friendly match. He considers the decision to hold the match in the United Arab Emirates a perplexing puzzle.
Furthermore, Hafid Drajai disclosed that many previous friendly matches have been organized without documented agreements, as is customary, to secure the financial rights, obligations, and returns.
Inspectors from the Presidency and the Ministry of Finance, according to a commentator on beIN Sports channels, are currently investigating all contracts and deals made over the past seven years. They have noted a lack of transparency in these deals, and the parties involved have not followed the established legal procedures. This includes contracts with Adidas for sports apparel and the contractors responsible for building academies and renovating the national team preparation center in Sidi Moussa.
Drajai stated that all these issues point to a moral bankruptcy before a financial and technical one within the football authority, which has unfortunately been held captive. Retrieving it will require time, effort, and resources that are currently not available in its coffers.
the status of the upcoming friendly match between Egypt and another team in Abu Dhabi is uncertain due to a lack of formal agreements. This situation highlights broader issues within the football authority, including transparency and ethical concerns, which need to be addressed to ensure the sport’s integrity.
