Saudi sports minister leaves Egypt’s sports scene
The decision of the head of Saudi General Sports Authority Turki al-Sheikh to withdraw from Egyptian sports and sell his club Pyramids Football Club after being insulted by Al-Ahli fans at one of their games sparked controversy in Egypt.
CAIRO — Turki al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia's sports minister and chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Sports Authority, has quit investments in Egypt’s sports. Sheikh decided Oct. 5 to sell his club known as Pyramids Football Club and to stop the broadcast of the club’s official channel.
On the same day, the channel went off-air. It only broadcast the following message, “There is no room for sports investment in an unhealthy environment.”
In press statements to Al Arabiya channel also on Oct. 5, Sheikh said, “I am disappointed about what happened to me in Egypt. I am frustrated. My decision is final and irreversible. Pyramids FC has finished. I started selling it.”
Sheikh's decision to withdraw from the Egyptian league came after excessive derogatory and insulting chants against him by Al-Ahly fans in their game against Horoya from Guinea on Sept. 25 in the African Champions League quarterfinals.
