Egyptian press bodies back journalists facing complaints from national team coach

Egypt's Journalists Syndicate and Sports Critics Association have rallied behind three journalists facing police reports filed by the national team's coach.

• The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate and the Sports Critics Association declared solidarity with journalists Abou El-Maati Zaki, Ahmed Abdel-Basset and Mohamed El-Mehdi.
• Hossam Hassan, coach of Egypt's national team, and his brother Ibrahim, team manager, filed police reports accusing the three of publishing false news and inciting fans.
• The syndicate held the Egyptian Football Association responsible for the escalation and demanded it persuade the Hassans to withdraw the reports.
• The syndicate stated sports criticism is not a crime, declaring press independence a red line.
• Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan said they hired lawyer Mortada Mansour for the complaints, citing a conflict of interest with their usual counsel Ashraf Abdelaziz.
• Syndicate head Khaled El-Balshi warned against turning professional disagreements into legal prosecutions targeting press freedom.