The board of directors of Al-Ittihad Alexandria Club in Egypt announced the end of the crisis of the young player Makary Younan, confirming that the investigations that were carried out regarding the incident did not prove the occurrence of any discriminatory practices.
The club explained in an official statement that the investigations were conducted in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with club officials, the player’s family, and Captain Ahmed Sari, the technical director, in order to ensure full transparency and to ascertain the truth of what was raised on social media.
The statement added that the results of the investigation showed that the incident occurred in the context of daily interactions between coaches and players within the sector, and that the technical director was keen to contain the situation and end it amicably, without any discriminatory transgressions.
The club indicated that the player’s family showed understanding of what happened, and the matter was resolved amicably, reflecting the family atmosphere that prevails within the youth sector, stressing that the crisis was closed permanently after reviewing all the circumstances.
Alexandria Union denied the validity of what was rumored regarding discrimination between players, pointing out that Makary Younan is one of the club’s own, as he started his career in the youth sector (B), before being promoted to sector (A) thanks to his technical level and abilities on the field.
The board of directors affirmed that Al-Ittihad Alexandria Club will continue to support all its members without any discrimination, and that the standard for evaluating players depends solely on competence and talent, stressing that sports remain a message to promote the values of national unity and belonging.
The club concluded its statement by wishing the player Makary Younan and all the young players of Al-Ittihad Alexandria success in the coming period, stressing the club’s continued commitment to providing a sporting environment based on respect and equal opportunities for all.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports in Egypt issued an urgent statement regarding the controversy surrounding the complaint of the player Makary Younan’s mother, related to his exclusion from football trials at Al-Ittihad Alexandria Club.
The statement indicated that, in response to directives from Gawhar Nabil, Minister of Youth and Sports, to promptly investigate the complaint filed by the mother of player Makary Younan regarding his exclusion from football trials at Al-Ittihad Alexandria Club due to his name, the Ministry formed a committee from the Alexandria Governorate's Directorate of Youth and Sports to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the incident. The committee commenced its work, heard testimonies from several witnesses, and concluded that the coach in charge had committed the violation.
In light of this, Al-Ittihad Alexandria Club was instructed to promptly initiate an investigation into the aforementioned coach and impose the appropriate penalty, submitting the results of the investigation and the imposed penalties to the Ministry within forty-eight hours. It was also decided to refer the matter to the Public Prosecution for further legal action.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports affirmed that junior tests and sports activities must be conducted in accordance with the principles of integrity, transparency, and equal opportunities, stressing that the right of juniors and youth to fair opportunities to practice sports and discover their talents is an inherent right that cannot be compromised under any circumstances or for any reason.
The Ministry emphasized that it will not tolerate any violation that undermines justice or equal opportunities, or involves any form of discrimination within sports and youth organizations. It announced its determination to take decisive legal and administrative measures, including imposing the maximum penalties permitted by regulations, which may include suspension and prohibition from working within any sports or youth organization, depending on the severity of the violation and the findings of the investigations. Similar cases will also be referred to the Public Prosecution if investigations reveal any suspicion of a crime punishable by law.
