Former Egypt national team footballer Aly Ghazal has been remanded to Cairo’s general prison to begin serving multiple prison sentences.
Aly Ghazal, who formerly played in multiple clubs abroad, notably in Portugal, China, and the MLS, was arrested following a string of legal complaints filed by several individuals.
Shortly after the player had announced in July 2024 that he would kick off his coaching career with third division club, Ra Sporting Club, He was accused of defrauding them out of over EGP 7 million.
According to police reports, the former player allegedly convinced victims to invest in an import-export venture promising high monthly returns. Investigations revealed he issued nine bounced cheques and is facing a total of 26 judicial rulings, ranging from fraud and embezzlement to breach of trust.
Aly Ghazal denied the charges during questioning, claiming he had left the company involved in 2022 and bore no direct responsibility. Additionally, the KingFut team spoke to the chairman of Ra SC in November of last year, and was able to obtain additional information about the case.
Cairo’s First Settlement Misdemeanors Court upheld the convictions, sentencing him to three years in prison and imposing a bail of EGP 10,000. His legal team has announced plans to appeal.
Despite a previous release order after initial investigations, Ghazal was re-arrested due to the accumulation of rulings and ongoing legal proceedings.
Police transported him to New Cairo Court to enforce the pending sentences, all of which were issued in absentia. More legal opposition motions are expected in the coming days.
Mohamed Rashwan, the lawyer representing several plaintiffs, confirmed that complaints were filed against Ghazal for scamming them with a fake smartphone import scheme and providing cheques that bounced upon deposit.
Ghazal is also accused of disappearing after failing to deliver agreed-upon profits from these alleged investments.
Aly Ghazal now finds himself entangled in a legal crisis that has effectively left a stain on his post-retirement status.