Ahmed Hossam Mido was banned from appearing in the media due to his comments about magic
The Supreme Council for Media Regulation in the Arab Republic of Egypt issued a decisive decision banning former Egyptian football star Ahmed Hossam (Mido) from appearing on any visual, audio, or print media outlets until the ongoing investigations against him are concluded. The Council mandated that all media platforms subject to the provisions of Law No. (180) of 2018 implement this decision immediately.
Reasons for the decision and details of the crisis
This official move by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation came in response to observations made by its monitoring and complaints committees, as Mido's recent statements sparked widespread controversy in sporting circles. The former Zamalek and Egyptian national team star had made statements during a podcast appearance with journalist Abu El-Maati Zaki, in which he explicitly questioned the integrity of the Egyptian national team's historic achievements during its golden era between 2006 and 2010.
In its official statement issued today (Monday), the council indicated that these statements are offensive to the symbols of Egyptian sports and cast doubt on the efforts of generations who raised Egypt’s name high, stressing that the complaints committee will set an urgent hearing for Mido, to submit the final recommendations to the council to take the necessary measures.
Claims of magic and sorcery
Mido made a shocking claim, alleging that the Egyptian national team's coaching staff at the time, led by Hassan Shehata, relied on "magic" to achieve victories. Mido stated, "Football in Egypt has been operating under the same system since the 1950s, and the national team depended on magic." He added controversial details about alleged rituals, such as reciting incantations over players' shoes and sprinkling water on them, and the involvement of sheikhs in determining players' jersey numbers. He also claimed that his exclusion from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations was based on advice from one of these sheikhs to the coaching staff.
The historical context of the golden generation
These statements are particularly dangerous because they target one of the most glorious periods in Egyptian football history. From 2006 to 2010, the Egyptian national team, under the guidance of the esteemed coach Hassan Shehata, achieved an unprecedented feat by winning the Africa Cup of Nations three times consecutively (2006, 2008, 2010). This generation, which included stars like Mohamed Aboutrika, Ahmed Hassan, and Essam El-Hadary, is considered by the Egyptian public to be the "golden generation," whose victories were achieved through tactical planning and a high fighting spirit. Therefore, any questioning of these achievements is seen as an attack on the very foundations of national sport.
The repercussions of the statements and the responsibility of the media
The Supreme Council for Media Regulation's intervention comes as part of its role in regulating the media landscape and preventing the incitement of discord or the dissemination of myths that could harm the reputation of Egyptian sports both domestically and internationally. Observers believe that attributing achievements to "magic" diminishes the immense effort and dedication invested by players and coaching staff over the years, and projects a negative image of the sporting mentality in Egypt. This prompted this swift regulatory action to ensure that media platforms are not exploited to promote narratives lacking factual evidence and damaging to the history of Egyptian sports.
